Business
BBC director general warns of 'move away from magazines'
The BBC has unveiled its strategy review that casts a shadow over the future of its magazines business.
In an interview with internal magazine Ariel, director general of the BBC Mark Thompson, said: "Over time, the strategic direction of [BBC] Worldwide will be away from things like magazines and into digital.
"We don't know what the precise solution is going to be. Whatever we end up doing with them, the success story of these magazines and the people who work for them is going to go on."
A 12-week Strategy Review consultation is currently under way at the corporation, although a spokesperson said that BBC Worldwide was not under the same mandate set out in the review as it is not funded by the licence fee. However, it does adhere to the same principles outlined in pthe review.
She dismissed any suggestion that the magazine portfolio would be up for sale as "speculation".
Thompson claimed magazines have "an incredible heritage" in the BBC. He said: "It's absolutely not about a fire sale, or even that there is going to be a straightforward sell-off of the magazine division - that would not be a good idea."
Most of BBC Worldwide's magazines are printed by Polestar.
Thompson: focus to shift to digital
Comments
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Stuart Mason - 10 March 2010
Maybe the BBC should consider a move away from print altogether... and should include the LICENCE.
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 10 March 2010
[quote user="printweek.com"]The BBC has unveiled its strategy review that casts a shadow over the future of its magazines business[/quote]
If the consumer demand is there, another publisher should be able to pick it up and run with it. Isn't this really about the BBC behaving responsibly and not abusing its dominant media position to unfairly exploit commercial opportunities?
Mick Hart - 11 March 2010
Is not the undertone really to cast doubt as to the future of printed magazines period? I agree, the BBC should be reigned in and forced stick to its core business, ie television and radio - It should not be dabbling in magazines, either on or off line, other than to advertise that core business.
Anyone paying their TV license fee should be questioning its use for subsidising on-line activities, which are free to all including non-licenced, while the quality and extent of TV programming continues to plummet.
ginger prince - 11 March 2010
I'm afraid there will be many more similar statements like this in the years to come - the long term future of magazines is by no means certain, with the effect the internet has had, and the effect devices such as the kindle will have.
steve handley - 12 March 2010
Do the magazines make money ? No one seems to know , If not smart move ,If so all this will do is put the TV Licence up to cover the hole the magazines left .
The Mighty Wind - 12 March 2010
[quote user="steve handley"]
Do the magazines make money ? No one seems to know , If not smart move ,If so all this will do is put the TV Licence up to cover the hole the magazines left .
[/quote]
I believe the answer is.......... piles of it.
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