What Does CMP’s Restructuring Move Mean for B2B Media?

One interesting fold in this story, a B2B media player pointed out to me today, is that tech publishers like IDG, Ziff Davis, and CMP are often “early adopters” in this industry.  Or, at least they have been seen that way–and rightfully–since the invasion of the Internet.

With this move, CMP Technology becomes much smaller (from about 1,100 employees to about 900), and much more online-focused.  Steve Weitzner, CEO, told me that he is looking to put resources in growth areas.  Even though online and face-to-face initiatives have been growing by double digits in the past few years:

“We’ve had double digit growth in online and events for some time, but we’ve been unable to feel like a growth company because we still had a lot of print.  This is an appropriate amount of print in the portfolio right now, and it allows us to put an appropriate focus in the business of online and events.  This does improve our margins, immediately,” says Weitzner.

Will other companies follow this example, and take a big block of resources out of print and put it behind online and face-to-face?