eBay, publisher fold auction magazine

eBay and Krause Publications have decided to discontinue the auction magazine after the upcoming December 2000 issue, eBay Magazine publisher Kevin Isaacson confirmed. That issue will be sent to readers early next month.

"As both eBay and Krause continue to grow and diversify, our changing priorities predicate investment in new areas," Brian Swette, eBay's chief operating officer, said in a statement. "We've enjoyed working with Krause...and will continue to utilize Krause's expertise in enthusiast markets in our future marketing initiatives."

Isaacson declined to give more details on why the magazine is being canceled. eBay representatives did not return calls seeking comment.

Debuting in August of last year, eBay Magazine was the result of a partnership between eBay and Krause, a publisher of hobbyist magazines and books. eBay saw the 400,000-circulation magazine as a way to promote its Web site.

"The magazine project was one that we very much enjoyed, but one that was conceived relatively early in eBay's explosive growth," Jim Gleim, executive vice president at Krause, said in the statement. "It was an alliance of two competitors and predicated upon models that are no longer valid."

The termination of the magazine was first reported by AuctionWatch.com.

The magazine was just one of a number of publications started by Internet companies in recent years, joining magazines sponsored by Yahoo, Pets.com and Garden.com.