It's Hot is set to hit the newsstands on April 16 priced £1.80, following a sampling campaign that will see 2.2m 16-page preview editions distributed with the Sunday Mirror and free samples sent out with sister magazines Girl Talk and Top of the Pops.
The BBC has dismissed calls that it is launching the magazine in competition with Emap's younger sister to Heat, because It's Hot is being targeted at the nine- to 13-year-old market, while Sneak -- which debuts on April 30 -- is targeting a slightly older audience.
As well as the preview distribution deals with its sister titles, It's Hot will tap its affiliation with household BBC brands such as 'EastEnders'.
The magazine is to feature an "official" comic strip based on 'EastEnders', on which It's Hot staff will work closely with the programme makers.
The BBC's decision to launch a teenage celebrity magazine will come as a surprise following the failure of its earlier effort Star, which was edited by It's Hot's managing editor Jeremy Mark.
However, Mark defended the launch, believing that the sampling campaign would help create public awareness of It's Hot, which was severely lacking when Star launched.
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