The long-term deal with Immediate Media Company is understood to be for a minimum of five years and encompasses 30 titles, including flagship brands like Radio Times, BBC Good Food and BBC Top Gear.
The titles will be produced across Polestar Petty, which produces the Radio Times, Polestar Chantry, Polestar Colchester, and Polestar Bicester and the renewal cements a relationship between Polestar and Immediate, through their various guises, that has lasted more than half a century.
"This latest contract win is indicative of the positive reaction we’ve had from our clients to the investment plan. We’re also dealing with Immediate Media now, not the BBC, so this validation from Immediate for a long term contract is fantastic, we’re dealing with a new organisation really, so we’re thrilled with this renewal," said Polestar marketing director – UK print, James Povey.
Mal Skelton, production director of Immediate Media Co, added: "This deal is mutually beneficial to both companies and is a reflection of our successful, long-term business relationship with Polestar."
Earlier this month, Polestar revealed a planned £50m spend with Goss International for a total of six presses: two 96pp Sunday 5000s, two 64pp Sunday 4000 short-grain presses, and a pair of 16pp M600s. Speaking at the time, Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert described it as "the largest single spend in print technology worldwide for some time".
The £75m renewal confirms Polestar’s position as Immediate’s primary print provider, although William Gibbons & Sons is understood to produce a significant number of specialist titles managed by Immediate’s Bristol Office.
