View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 4, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 7:09pm

BBC sells Origin Publishing to MBO team after Thompson’s remit review

By Press Gazette

The BBC has sold Origin Publishing, the specialist magazine company it bought two years ago, to a management buyout team, following the commercial review that said the titles did not fit into the corporation’s remit.

In Mark Thompson’s radical shakeup of the service at the end of 2004, BBC Magazines was told it could only publish titles directly linked to TV programmes, while Origin, which owns titles such as Your Hair and Cross Stitch Crazy, had to be sold.

BBC History, BBC Wildlife and Songs of Praise magazines, which were transferred to Origin when it was purchased, will be retained by the BBC in a new company, Bristol Magazines.

Homes & Antiques magazine will be transferred from London to the Bristol site, and the BBC’s next title will be launched from the Bristol base.

However, a spokeswoman for the company said there were no plans to move any of the other London-based titles to the West Country.

Andy Marshall, managing director of Origin, will now lead the independent Origin Publishing and be acting director of the new Bristol Magazines, which will be chaired by Peter Phippen, MD of BBC Magazines.

A spokesman said: "BBC Magazines conducted an extensive tender process involving a significant number of companies and accepted Origin’s MBO proposal as the highest bid put forward."

Phippen said: "It’s sad to have to sell Origin and to be saying farewell to some very talented people, but this is in line with the new remit for BBC Magazines.

"Origin is an excellent company and I’m sure the MBO team will ensure the business continues to prosper.

"For our part, we remain committed to Bristol as a publishing centre.

Indeed, we are moving Homes & Antiques there and have recently announced our next launch, BBC Mind Games. I’m very excited about our new venture."

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network