BWI: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition - One of the Biggest Franchises in Media set for a Smashing Indian debut

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Sports Illustrated India
Monday, November 28, 2011 11:40 AM IST (06:10 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Lifestyle, Sports; Business: Business services, Media & entertainment, Retailers, Sports
--------------------------------------------------
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition - One of the Biggest Franchises in Media set for a Smashing Indian debut


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Monday, November 28, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- This November, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA, the country's leading English-language sports magazine, brings an iconic super brand to Indian readers with the 2011 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT issue.

Since debuting on January 20, 1964, the Swimsuit franchise has become one of the biggest and most dynamic brands in media and publishing, reaching over 60 million people annually and having several product extensions in digital, social, broadcast, publishing, mobile and consumer products. Consistent with SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's reputation as an arbiter of status, the Swimsuit franchise has transformed models into pop culture icons, among them Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter, Rebecca Romijn, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Bar Rafaeli and Marisa Miller.

In 2010, Sonia Dara became the first Indian to be featured in the Swimsuit issue. Recording artist Beyoncé was the 2007 cover girl while several star athletes-including tennis players Steffi Graf, Serena and Venus Williams, Anna Kournikova and Ana Ivanovic; Olympic gold medalists Amanda Beard and Jennie Finch; and Winter Olympians Clair Bidez, Lacy Schnoor, Hannah Teter and Lindsey Vonn-have also graced the pages of the publication.

India's first Swimsuit issue, priced at an introductory invitational price of Rs. 100, features supermodel Irina Shayk on the cover. This year's cover was shot in Hawaii by Bjorn Iooss-son of longtime Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr., who has shot eleven Swimsuit covers during his renowned career.

This year's issue also features 2010 Swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker. In addition, Olympic javelin thrower Leryn Franco, surfer Bruna Schmitz and volleyball star Kim Glass look their beautiful best against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Canada.

A bevy of SI Swimsuit platforms beyond the magazine brings the personalities of this year's models to life. In addition to 1,300+ photos and 100+ videos courtesy of www.SI.com/Swimsuit, apps on the iPad, Galaxy, iPhone and Android act as a showcase for everything readers want to know about this year's models.

Piyush Sharma, the Director of Dennis Media Transasia India Ltd, which publishes SI India, said he hoped "India and the increasingly global Indian will embrace the magazine in its launch issue." "I hope our audience will be as excited about the product as we are about bringing it here," said Sharma.

"SI's Swimsuit issue is an iconic brand that personifies the marriage of sports and entertainment," said Kadambari Murali Wade, editor-in-chief, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA. "It is a celebration of women and of beauty, and is sexy without being tacky."

About SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

For more than 55 years SPORTS ILLUSTRATED has delivered the stories of sport, first through the flagship print magazine, and now through more than two dozen platforms reaching a collective audience of more than 30 million. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is widely seen as leading the industry's digital transformation which complements the media company's emerging marketing, retail business and social footprint, which is more than 2.5 million strong. Current SPORTS ILLUSTRATED business units include print, digital, marketing, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BOOKS, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INTERNATIONAL and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PRODUCTIONS. These units are built on the foundation of the franchise's award-winning writers and photographers who have earned a combined 50 awards for editorial excellence in the past year.

Contact: Scott Novak VP, Communications Sports Illustrated +1212.522.2687

About SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA was established in October 2009 by Dennis Media Transasia Publishing Pvt Ltd, under license from Time Inc., with a view to meet the demand for an intelligent, in-depth sports magazine focusing on the growing Indian sporting arena. It goes out to 200 cities across the country.


CONTACT DETAILS
Francis Wu, Sports Illustrated India, +91 (124) 4759564/ +91 9958157788, francis@mtil.biz

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, LIFESTYLE, SPORTS, BUSINESS SERVICES, MEDIA, RETAIL

If you wish to change your Business Wire India selection please click on this link http://www.businesswireindia.com/media/news.asp and use your personal username and password to login.

Submit your press release at http://www.businesswireindia.com