Zoo is an international men's lifestyle magazine founded in 1986 in Australia and currently published in 24 countries. It features articles on fashion, fitness, music, cars, and travel. It has been criticized for its objectification of women and sexualized images of models, leading to it being banned in some areas. Despite this controversy, Zoo remained popular for years due to its focus on sports coverage. This editorial strategy was unique among its competitors, but it also brought about criticism from media watchdogs and feminist organizations.
Football is one of the most popular sports covered by Zoo, with extensive coverage of local leagues such as English Premier League and European Championships. Rugby is another sport that received significant attention, with interviews of top players and commentary on matches. The magazine also featured motorsports, including Formula One and MotoGP races. These sports were a staple of Zoo's content, with weekly columns dedicated to them.
The magazine's sports coverage helped broaden its appeal beyond erotic material, which was the mainstay of Zoo until recently. Its sports section attracted readers interested in the latest developments in football or rugby, while still providing the same level of sexually explicit content they had come to expect. This allowed Zoo to maintain its readership even as other publications shifted away from eroticism to more serious topics.
In conclusion, Zoo's sports coverage played a significant role in its success, helping it appeal to a wider audience and cementing its position as a leader in men's lifestyle magazines. Its commitment to covering sports alongside erotic material made it stand out from its competitors and attracted both sports fans and those seeking titillation. However, this approach faced backlash from critics who felt it objectified women and perpetuated harmful stereotypes about masculinity. Nonetheless, Zoo remained popular for years thanks to its ability to balance these two elements successfully.