KITE Magazin

What KITE Magazin does

KITE Magazin is a German-language kitesurfing magazine published by OCEAN.GLOBAL GmbH & Co. KG, serving recreational and competitive kiteboarding enthusiasts across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Founded in 2016 and headquartered operationally in Kiel with a legal entity registered in Munich, the company publishes a flagship 132-page print magazine eight times per year covering gear tests, technique tutorials, travel features, professional athlete interviews, and event coverage. A sister publication, Wing Surfers Magazine, was launched in April 2021 to cover the adjacent wing surfing discipline.

The publication operates a multi-format distribution stack anchored on a PressMatrix-powered digital publishing platform. Subscribers and single-copy buyers access content through dedicated iOS and Android mobile apps, a browser-based E-Paper web reader, and physical newsstand placement at kiosks, bookstores, train stations, and airports across German-speaking markets. The company also organizes the KITE Demotour, a recurring kiteboarding demo and trade-fair event series titled by SunExpress in 2025 and 2026, which functions as both a community touchpoint and a brand-partnership activation.

Commercially, KITE Magazin combines direct-to-consumer subscription revenue (Print-Abo, Digital-Abo, Kombi-Abo, and Geschenk-Abo tiers priced in EUR on annual or biennial cadences) with single-copy print and digital sales (EUR 3.90-3.99 per issue), display advertising, advertorial content, and event sponsorship. Key advertising and media-partner relationships include SunExpress, Duotone, GKA (Global Kitesports Association), and major domestic events such as the California Kitesurf Masters. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding or external investment.

Name

KITE Magazin

Legal name

OCEAN.GLOBAL GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://kitemagazin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KITE Magazin is a privately held German-language kitesurfing magazine published eight times per year by OCEAN.GLOBAL GmbH & Co. KG, serving DACH kiteboarding enthusiasts with print, E-Paper, and mobile app subscriptions, alongside the annual KITE Demotour event series.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports & Outdoor Consumer Magazine

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJAEAJ

Sports & Recreation Magazines

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Magazine Publishing (Consumer & B2B/Trade Magazines)

SECONDARYMPAJAEAH

Travel & Outdoors Magazines

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Magazine Publishing (Consumer & B2B/Trade Magazines)

SECONDARYTHAJABAK

Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Adventure & Outdoor Experiences (Hiking, Rafting, Zipline, Safaris)

Keywords

• Kitesurfing magazine
• Print magazine publishing
• Digital magazine subscription
• Windsurfing editorial content
• Sports media publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Herrsching Am Ammersee

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Sales: Single copy sales of the printed KITE Magazin at newsstands (Kiosk), bookstores, train stations, and airports in German-speaking regions.
2. Print Subscription (Print-Abo): Annual or biennial mailed print subscription delivered to subscribers' addresses. Available as 1-year (8 issues) or 2-year (16 issues) subscription.
3. Digital Subscription (Digital-Abo): Annual or biennial digital subscription providing access to the magazine via the KITE Magazin App or E-Paper. Available as 1-year (8 issues) or 2-year (16 issues) subscription.
4. Kombi-Abo (Print + Digital): Combined print and digital subscription bundling both delivery formats. Available as 1-year (8 issues) or 2-year (16 issues) subscription.
5. Gift Subscription (Geschenk-Abo): Gift subscription delivered directly to a recipient, with a printable or digital gift voucher including a sample issue. Auto-terminates after 8 issues.
6. Single Digital Edition (E-Paper): Individual digital edition purchased and read immediately via the web reader platform. One-off transaction per edition.
7. Advertising: Magazine accepts display advertising placements and advertorial content. The magazine's Terms & Conditions (AGB) outline standard advertising contract terms, and ad placements are offered as part of a standard media kit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KITE Magazin publishes a German-language kitesurfing magazine available in print (approximately 8 issues per year, ~132 pages each) and digital formats (E-Paper via browser reader, iOS/Android mobile app). Content covers kite and board product tests, travel destination guides, technique tutorials, professional athlete interviews, and event coverage such as the GKA Kite Surf World Cup. The company also publishes the sister title WING Surfers Magazine, runs the KITE Demotour event series sponsored by SunExpress, and sells advertising placements and advertorial features in its issues.

Product overview

KITE Magazin is a German-language kitesurfing magazine published by OCEAN.GLOBAL GmbH & Co. KG, offering its content through multiple distribution channels: a print magazine published 8 times annually, an E-Paper digital reader for desktop browser access, and a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android. The publication also extends its coverage to wing surfing through the separate WING Surfers Magazine title. Subscription options include standalone print or digital plans, a combined print+digital Kombi-Abo, and a gift subscription variant. Additionally, the company organizes the KITE Demotour, a trade fair and equipment demo event series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wing Surfers Magazin: A magazine dedicated to wing surfing, launched in 2021 as a companion publication to KITE Magazin.

Products and services

• KITE Magazin (Print) Flagship German-language kitesurfing magazine published approximately 8 times per year (~132 pages per issue), containing independent product tests of kites, boards, bars and accessories, travel destination guides, technique tutorials, professional athlete interviews, and kiteboarding event coverage. Distributed via newsstands, kiosks, bookstores, train stations, and airports across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
• KITE Magazin E-Paper

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• California Kiteboarding World Cup BorkumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026The California Kiteboarding World Cup event on the island of Borkum (Niedersachsen) is covered by KITE Magazine as its official media partner. The international freestyle elite competes from 03–07 June 2026.
• Surfschule NorddeichminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Surfschule Norddeich (a kiteboarding school) collaborated with KITE Magazin to produce video tutorials featuring KITE Cheftester Michael Vogel. The school operates the 'Surfschule Norddeich' YouTube channel where the video tutorials are published.
• Kite- und Yoga-Retreat TürkeiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 September 2025KITE Magazine covered kiteboarding and yoga retreats in Turkey as part of its travel editorial, supported by tourism marketing partnerships.
• ROBINSON CABO VERDEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2025ROBINSON CABO VERDE (a resort) partnered with KITE Magazine for a reader competition offering a dream vacation prize, published as an advertorial feature in KITE 2/25.
• DuotoneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2025Duotone is a major kiteboarding equipment brand advertising in KITE Magazine and sponsoring the KITE Demotour. The magazine features Duotone products prominently in its advertising placements.
• Neu entdeckte Kite-Paradiese (Egypt Tourism)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2025KITE Magazine produced an advertorial feature on Egypt as a kiteboarding destination ('Neu entdeckte Kite-Paradiese') as a paid tourism marketing partnership.
• Kitesafari TürkeiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2025KITE Magazine covered Turkey as a kiteboarding safari destination, publishing travel editorial content on Turkey's coastline and kite spots.
• SunExpresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 March 2025SunExpress serves as the title sponsor of the KITE Demotour, a kiteboarding demo event tour. The partnership was active in both 2025 ('KITE Demotour 2025 – powered by Sunexpress') and 2026 ('KITE Demotour 2026 – powered by SunExpress'). SunExpress is a Turkish airline (joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa).
• GKA (Global Kitesports Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2025KITE Magazin provides editorial coverage of GKA Kite Surf World Cup events, including the Sal (Cape Verde) tour opener and Ponta Preta competitions. GKA organizes international professional kiteboarding competitions.
• C Resorts (Mauritius & Rodrigues)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 November 2024C Resorts on Mauritius and Rodrigues partnered with KITE Magazine as an advertorial feature ('Unleash your inner child!') highlighting flatwater kiteboarding and resort experiences.
• ION MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024KITE Magazine featured ION's video 'The Vision' starring world champion athletes Mika Sol, Andrea Principi, and Camille Losserand, cross-promoting ION's video content to the KITE readership.
• GKA Youth World ChampionshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024KITE Magazin covered Finn Flügel's GKA Youth World Championship win (U16 Freestyle) in 2024, reporting on the 15-year-old German athlete's Perfect 10 performance.
• California Kitesurf Masters St. Peter-OrdingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2024KITE Magazin serves as media partner for the California Kitesurf Masters event in St. Peter-Ording (SPO), a major German kiteboarding event held annually.
• Zenit PresseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZenit Presse (Julius-Hölder-Straße 47, 70597 Stuttgart) is the KITE Magazin subscription service (Aboservice), handling subscription management, delivery, and customer service for magazine subscribers.
• PressMatrix GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPressMatrix provides the digital publishing platform (webreader.kitemagazin.de) powering the E-Paper reader, subscription management, and digital edition delivery for KITE Magazine.
• Wing Surfers Magazin (Sister Brand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWING Surfers Magazin is a sister publication within the OCEAN.GLOBAL portfolio, targeting the wing surfing sport. It is cross-promoted on the KITE Magazine website (e.g., 'Jetzt die neue Ausgabe lesen: gedruckt oder digital' linking to wingsurfersmagazin.de).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Inertia: The Inertia is a US-based digital media company covering surfing, kiteboarding, and ocean sports. Comparable as a digitally-native surf/kite editorial platform targeting enthusiast audiences with advertising and content partnerships.
• Red Bull Media House: Red Bull Media House produces action-sports editorial, video, and event coverage at global scale, including kiteboarding athletes and events. Comparable as a major action-sports content and event producer that competes for advertising and audience attention in kiteboarding.
• Outside Magazine: Outside is a major US outdoor/adventure-sports publication covering action sports including kiteboarding, windsurfing, and adventure travel. Comparable as a larger incumbent that addresses overlapping audience interests and competes for the same enthusiast advertising dollars.
• Surfer Magazine: Surfer Magazine is a heritage surf/wave-sports title that has historically covered kiteboarding among wave-riding disciplines. Comparable as an established surf-adjacent magazine in the same broader water sports media category.
• SportMagazin: SportMagazin is a major German general-sports print magazine covering a wide range of sports. Comparable as a DACH print-sports media competitor, though broader in scope and not focused on the kitesurfing niche.

Direct peers

• Boards Magazine: Boards is a long-established German water sports magazine covering kitesurfing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding — directly comparable as a DACH-region, multi-discipline water sports title competing for the same advertising and subscriber base.
• Wave Magazin: Wave Magazin is a German-language kitesurfing and surfing publication with similar print/digital distribution. Comparable as a DACH kiteboarding editorial competitor targeting the same enthusiast audience.

Others

• Duotone: Duotone is a leading global kiteboarding equipment brand that advertises in KITE Magazin and sponsors the KITE Demotour. Included as an ecosystem participant (advertiser/sponsor) rather than a media competitor — illustrating the brand-side counterpart in the kiteboarding value chain.

Regional players

• Kiteworld Magazine: Kiteworld is a leading English-language international kitesurfing magazine publishing print and digital editions. Comparable in editorial scope (gear tests, travel, technique) and serves as a regional/linguistic peer — KITE Magazin's DACH complement.
• Windsurf Magazine: Windsurf Magazine is a UK-based print and digital publication covering windsurfing and kitesurfing. Comparable in editorial focus (gear tests, travel, technique tutorials) and represents the international English-language analog to KITE Magazin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KiteMagazin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqXnVJp5h3eJ9Y2qKc5qN7w
• Facebookfacebook.com/kitemagazin.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/kitemagazin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KITE Magazin