Warren Buffett's quote and views were on the newspaper industry and not magazines in general. I agree with the new CEO that glossy print does have a future and a pretty decent one.
I havent purchased a newspaper in probably 10 years but I still subscribe to at least a half dozen magazines. People are addicted to their computer but when it comes to pictures, lifestyle stories, investigative pieces it still is nice to just sit on the couch and flip real pages. Plus not many people take their laptop into the bathroom.
Playboy magazine's dwindling market share has a lot more to do with new competition (Maxim, FHM etc) and the core demographic aging versus the internet taking out magazines.
They need to pump up the magazine, more investigative pieces targeting the lifestyle, even more pics, reviews etc and run it as a loss leader. Then operate the clubs, hotels, apparel licensing, mainstream entertainment. Still an iconic killer brand that everyone knows. Turn it loose.
