ACP MAGAZINES AUSSIE JV WITH BBC MAGAZINES
March 12th 2008 03:24
Sydney: ACP Magazines, Australia’s largest magazine publisher, and BBC Magazines, the 3rd-largest consumer magazine publisher in the UK, today announced a 50/50 joint venture in the Australian market. The new partnership will operate from ACP Magazines’ Sydney office.
The two companies will collaborate to develop and publish titles from BBC Magazines’ wide-ranging portfolio, including lifestyle, children’s and special interest magazines.
The first magazine to launch under the new publishing partnership will be the much anticipated Australian edition of Top Gear, in mid 2008. Top Gear is already the world’s number one motoring media brand, with television audiences in more than 120 countries, and more than 20 international versions of the magazine in 40 territories.
The partnership will operate in the same way as ACP Magazines’ long running joint venture with Hearst magazines in Australia which publishes Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Madison.
The new company plans a second major launch before the end of 2008.
Peter Phippen, Managing Director, BBC Magazines said: “I’m delighted to announce this deal with ACP Magazines. Top Gear is already a hugely successful international brand and this new joint venture will enable BBC Magazines to explore the full potential of other key BBC properties in what is a rapidly-growing market for us.“
Scott Lorson, Chief Executive Officer, ACP Magazines, said: “This move brings together two world leading publishing houses, combining BBC’s rich portfolio of magazine titles with ACP’s local market knowledge and strong publishing culture. We are extremely pleased to be working in partnership with the BBC, and look forward to jointly delivering Australian consumers an exciting range of new and compelling titles including Top Gear magazine.
Ashley Munday, BBC Magazines’ International Director, added: “ACP Magazines is a world-class publisher with a wealth of expertise and knowledge in this market. We at BBC Magazines believe this will be a great partnership, which will unite BBC Worldwide’s quality brands with ACP’s outstanding reputation in the industry.”
The partnership will be managed by a board comprising representatives from BBC Worldwide and ACP Magazines. Phil Scott, Group Publisher Men’s & Specialist Titles - ACP Magazines, will take on the additional role of General Manager of the joint venture and will run the day to day management of the company.
Scott said: “We have been working to make this partnership a reality since early 2007 because we believe it is a great fit. Together, it will allow us to take advantage of a number of opportunities in the future.”
About BBC Magazines
The establishment of a publishing joint venture in Australia is part of BBC Worldwide’s strategy to drive international growth.
Australia was identified as a key territory for global investment in 2007, and this publishing joint venture follows a succession of deals concluded by BBC Worldwide over the past year: the acquisition of travel information group Lonely Planet; a 25% stake in Australian production company Freehand; the first international version of Top Gear and the announcement of an HD Channel to launch later this year.
BBC Magazines is the publishing arm of BBC Worldwide. It is the UK’s third largest publisher and has a portfolio of over 50 regular titles, including Top Gear, Good Food, Gardeners' World, Good Homes, Radio Times and 21 children's titles.
Internationally, BBC Magazines licenses 45 titles to publishers in over 57 territories.
In 2004, BBC Magazines entered into a joint venture with The Times of India to create Worldwide Media, India's largest magazine company.
The first international version of Top Gear magazine launched in the Middle East in 1998. There are now editions in 22 countries including Russia, Italy, China, India, Greece and the Netherlands.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven operating businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Magazines, Content & Production, Home Entertainment, Digital Media and the travel information group Lonely Planet. In 2006/07 BBC Worldwide generated profits of £111 million on sales of £810 million.
The two companies will collaborate to develop and publish titles from BBC Magazines’ wide-ranging portfolio, including lifestyle, children’s and special interest magazines.
The first magazine to launch under the new publishing partnership will be the much anticipated Australian edition of Top Gear, in mid 2008. Top Gear is already the world’s number one motoring media brand, with television audiences in more than 120 countries, and more than 20 international versions of the magazine in 40 territories.
The new company plans a second major launch before the end of 2008.
Peter Phippen, Managing Director, BBC Magazines said: “I’m delighted to announce this deal with ACP Magazines. Top Gear is already a hugely successful international brand and this new joint venture will enable BBC Magazines to explore the full potential of other key BBC properties in what is a rapidly-growing market for us.“
Scott Lorson, Chief Executive Officer, ACP Magazines, said: “This move brings together two world leading publishing houses, combining BBC’s rich portfolio of magazine titles with ACP’s local market knowledge and strong publishing culture. We are extremely pleased to be working in partnership with the BBC, and look forward to jointly delivering Australian consumers an exciting range of new and compelling titles including Top Gear magazine.
The partnership will be managed by a board comprising representatives from BBC Worldwide and ACP Magazines. Phil Scott, Group Publisher Men’s & Specialist Titles - ACP Magazines, will take on the additional role of General Manager of the joint venture and will run the day to day management of the company.
Scott said: “We have been working to make this partnership a reality since early 2007 because we believe it is a great fit. Together, it will allow us to take advantage of a number of opportunities in the future.”
About BBC Magazines
The establishment of a publishing joint venture in Australia is part of BBC Worldwide’s strategy to drive international growth.
Australia was identified as a key territory for global investment in 2007, and this publishing joint venture follows a succession of deals concluded by BBC Worldwide over the past year: the acquisition of travel information group Lonely Planet; a 25% stake in Australian production company Freehand; the first international version of Top Gear and the announcement of an HD Channel to launch later this year.
BBC Magazines is the publishing arm of BBC Worldwide. It is the UK’s third largest publisher and has a portfolio of over 50 regular titles, including Top Gear, Good Food, Gardeners' World, Good Homes, Radio Times and 21 children's titles.
Internationally, BBC Magazines licenses 45 titles to publishers in over 57 territories.
In 2004, BBC Magazines entered into a joint venture with The Times of India to create Worldwide Media, India's largest magazine company.
The first international version of Top Gear magazine launched in the Middle East in 1998. There are now editions in 22 countries including Russia, Italy, China, India, Greece and the Netherlands.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven operating businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Magazines, Content & Production, Home Entertainment, Digital Media and the travel information group Lonely Planet. In 2006/07 BBC Worldwide generated profits of £111 million on sales of £810 million.
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