NEW YORK : Primedia International, the global licensing arm of Primedia has announced a licensing arrangement with Mumbai-based publisher Apricot Publishing, to produce the first edition of Seventeen Magazine on the Indian subcontinent. This brings to 14 the number of global editions for Seventeen, including the US-based magazine which claims to be the unchallenged teen category leader.

Primedia is targetting the Indian teen population of 60 million. The magazine will blend local content with certain Seventeen features. The local content may involve Bollywood celebrities.

President of Apricot Publishing Arjun Mehra says, "We chose Seventeen to partner with because it is the strongest teen brand, and is well known among young Indian audiences. Apricot has partnered with Primedia as part of its strategy to bring high-fashion magazine brands to Indian readers."

In the US, Seventeen claims to be the leader in providing multiple platform marketing solutions for advertisers. Seventeen recently joined with Fox Television on the fourth Annual Teen Choice Awards.

An official release states that since 2000, when Primedia began its international licensing program, the company has launched editions of Seventeen in the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Russia, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. These licensing arrangements have been signed with some of the leading publishers in these regions, including Grupo Femina in Indonesia, Summit Publishing in the Philippines, MPH in Singapore and Malaysia, South Korea's Seoul Cultural Publishers, Media Transasia in Thailand, Editora Cinco (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador) and SK Press in Russia.

Primedia is pioneering the concept of targeted scale through its combination of traditional and new media properties. The company capitalises on its focused content across print, television, the internet and live events to offer highly effective integrated advertising and marketing solutions in some of the most sought after advertising demographic sectors including teens, automotive, outdoor, luxury, real estate and business-to-business segments.

With 2001 sales from continuing businesses of $1.6 billion, Primedia claims to be the number one special interest magazine publisher in the US producing more advertising and editorial pages through its more than 250 titles including Seventeen, Automobile, Motor Trend, New York, Fly Fisherman than any other media company. It is also producea and distributes specialty video with 18 satellite and digital video product lines, including Channel One Network.