OK! is a British weekly magazine, specializing in celebrity news. Originally launched as a monthly, its first issue was published in April 1993. In September 2004, Ok! publishers Northern and Shell launched in Australia as a monthly title - the magazine then went weekly in October 2006. In 2005, a US version was launched, followed by an Indian edition, a Spanish-language version in Mexico, a Bulgarian-language version and a Spanish edition in 2008. OK! is the world's biggest celebrity lifestyle magazine, with more than 30 million readers worldwide, and now appears in 19 countries (Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Middle East, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK and the US). OK! is one of the most popular celebrity gossip magazines in the UK. A new issue is released every Tuesday costing at £2.20. The magazine itself also has another inner magazine called 'Hot Stars', which it has been said is similar to rival magazine 'Heat'.
The magazine tends to feature exclusive interviews and personal revelations from celebrities including engagements and pregnancies. In 2005, celebrity pregnancies were revealed by Jordan and Peter, Steven Gerrard and Alex Curran. Starts such as Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton and Andy Scott-Lee announced their engagement with exclusive deals with OK! magazine. This represents what the magazine is focusing on, which is celebrity gossip and news.
Northern and Shell is the publisher of OK! magazine. In 1974 it started out as a small publishing company with limitless vision. Publishing a single music title with a few hundred thousand copies a year, determination, radical ideas and attention to detail were used to make the most of a specialized market. By the early Eighties the group had broadened its publishing base and also owned a fully recognised advertising agency. In 1982 Northern & Shell became the first company to put up its own building in London's burgeoning Docklands-a bold move affording opportunities for ever more rapid expansion. Through the eighties a range of specialist magazines were launched, licensed and acquired, a number of which were sold in the early nineties. Meanwhile successes in celebrity publishing and women's titles laid the groundwork for yet more ambitious undertakings.
The launch of OK! magazine brought together all the Network's strengths. There were celebrity connections from the music magazines and a wide-ranging and technically innovative production base. Decision-making could be rapid, thanks to short lines of communication and there was tight control due to ownership of ancillary functions such as reproduction and distribution. There was commitment and stamina to invest and keep on investing until the title reached the status of market leader.
I feel that OK! magazine is targeted at teenagers to middle age women. As both these age ranges are interested in celebrity gossip and lifestyles which is mainly what the magazine is based on. As every article in the magazine is interviewing an A list celebrity. The adverts shown in the magazine are for different perfumes etc, products that are affordable prices for most people. Whereas from previously looking at magazines like Vogue the advertisements are for more expensive products - which are perhaps less affordable.
The front cover shows pictures of Eva Longoria, Kate Price and Victoria Beckham who are all A List popular celebrities, by showing a variety of popular celebrities on the front cover it attracts a wide variation of different readers, catering for peoples different tastes and needs. The main photograph of Eva Longoria and her husband is quite obviously posed, as it is one of their wedding pictures. This seems relevant to OK!'s needs as they cater for a large range of celebrity weddings. They both look very warm and welcoming, which attracts the reader to read the article and view the pictures of this special celebrity event. To the left of the main photograph is another photograph featuring Katie Price and Peter Andre, which is also posed. You can tell this by their facial expressions and body language. This also appears very posed as the article advertised next to it is not a very positive one as it is discussing 'dramatic weight loss' and 'postnatal depression'. The third photograph on the front cover is a photo of Victoria Beckham - One of the worlds most famous celebrities. Again this picture appears posed as she does not look very relaxed and appears to be smiling uncomfortably towards the camera. By showing these three extremely popular celebrities on the front cover, the magazine is appealing to a range of different people and fans.
The magazine also has a website which allows the reader to interact more with the magazine. The OK! magazine website features News and photographs, videos, fashion & beauty, Living, shopping and weather. The presentation of the magazine is very eye catching as it uses a range of different colours and bold fonts to attract the readers eye.
HELLO! magazine is the main competitor with OK! magazine as both magazines cater for the same audience, both mainly featuring celebrity interviews and news. An example of the rivalry between these two magazines is that recently OK! was awarded £1,033,156 in a lawsuit. As OK! had exclusive right to the wedding of Catherine Zeta-Hones and Michael Douglas, but its rival Hello! Magazine, published pictures as well, so OK! sued.