Thu, Jul 10, 2008 | 16:09 BST
Next-Gen.biz is rebranded as Edge?
Not quite sure what’s going on here, but it looks as though Next-Gen.biz is being rebranded as Edge’s site. The following popped up in our newsreaders this morning:
What is Happening Here?
from Next Generation by Colin Campbell
Until last week, this site was called Next-Gen; now it’s called Edge. This is the story of how and why it happened.
I’ve worked on Next Generation, on and off, for 13 years, a far longer span of time than anyone else. So it feels weird that I was the one who brought it to an end. It all began with a phone call I made to an old friend, about ten weeks ago.
The link to the piece, however, brings up a requirement for a username and password, and Next-Gen‘s still very much live.
Looks as though a cat may be out of a bag. We’ll ask Future this morning.
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Posted in: America, Internet, Journalism, Trade, UK
Tags: Colin Campbell, edge, next-gen.biz
7 comments
#1
Michael
10/07/08, 6:33 am
Next-Gen was an American magazine that was essentially EDGE for the US, featuring content from the publication along with its own original content.
The EDGE site was recently dropped and EDGE Magazine was implemented into the Next-Gen website. Now, apparently, they’re doing a 360 and changing the name the EDGE… again.
Strange move, if you ask me.
#2
patlike
10/07/08, 7:16 am
Bit weird to drop the Next-Gen brand completely, if that’s what they’re doing. It holds a lot of currency in the US. I dunnno: have to wait and see, I guess.
#3
EdwardTivrusky
10/07/08, 9:21 am
Well, i hear Edge mentioned in semi-reverential tones on the yank podcasts i listen to. Most seemed to think they didn’t have something similar in tone and depth in the U.S. So maybe it’s a rebrand to try and cash-in on that perception?
I like Edge and even though i do get a little tired of it’s pretentious style at times it is a good mag. Good luck to ‘em.
#4
Killerbee
10/07/08, 10:12 am
It’s pretty rare that I buy print mags, but if I do, EDGE is what I’ll pick up. In the UK at least, I’d say the EDGE brand has the edge (badumtish) over “Next-Gen” in terms of awareness. The US may be a different story, of course…
If Next-Gen and EDGE were doing some sort of site merger, it may have made more sense to stick with the Next-Gen site format and content, but just use the EDGE branding.
FWIW, I much prefer EDGE to “Next-Gen”.
#5
fj
10/07/08, 10:23 am
Does Future still have to pay a licence fee to use the name ‘Edge’?
#6
Hero of Canton
10/07/08, 11:07 am
Clearly a draft piece that’s been uploaded to the server in preparation for the name-change, but which – for whatever reason – is being picked up by news readers.
Probably a good idea, really. Edge is gaining currency as a brand in the US (its overseas sales dwarf other UK mags, apparently). Having N’Gai Croal and Randy Smith on board obviously helps. I just hope the mag doesn’t become too Americanised.
#7
patlike
10/07/08, 11:34 am
GI’s done a follow up. I’ll do a story in a second.