Magazine companies

Magazine CompaniesBY HARVEY PENSON

Bauer Media Group Bauer Media are Europe’s largest privately owned publishing

group. The group is a worldwide media empire submitting 300 magazines in 15 countries. Bauer Media joined the Bauer Media Group in January 2008. They are a multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions: Magazines and Radio. Bauer Media is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. There method is to connect audiences with excellent content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, however they like.

History The magazine heritage dates back to 1953 with the launch of Angling

Times and the acquisition in 1956 of Motor Cycle News. The seeds of the company’s radio business were established in 1990 with the acquisition of London dance station Kiss FM, followed by the acquisition of Liverpool's Radio City and later by TWC and the Metro Group.

In 1994 they bought a small magazine called For Him Magazine which is now the core of the best-selling international multi-platform brand FHM. In 1996, they acquired digital music TV channel The Box, as a route into the small screen business, which has grown into Box Plus Network, a seven channel joint venture TV business with Channel 4. Following more launches, Closer was launched in 2002 and Britain’s first weekly glossy, GRAZIA, was launched in 2005.

Publications Today, Bauer Media spans over 80 influential brand names

covering a diverse range of interests including heat – the must have weekly celebrity title, Parkers, MATCH!, CAR and Yours. Bauer Media promote many popular magazines, such as EMPIRE, CLOSER, ZOO, and MOJO.

Empire is the world’s biggest movie magazine, which includes exclusive looks at the newest film sets, and the latest info on Hollywood's bright stars. Working with Britain’s best film writers, photographers and art directors Empire is the multi-platform brand that takes one step further into the art and enjoyment of movies. Empire’s main target audience is movie enthusiasts at a mature age. Talented film journalists meet the world’s brightest film-makers every single month. From one-on-one’s with famous directors to spending six weeks on set making. Empire released their first issue in July 1989. and was edited by Barry McIlheney. Empire organises the annual Empire Awards which were sponsored by Sony Ericsson, and from 2009 by Jameson. These awards are voted by the readers of the magazine.

KERRANG is the most exciting youth brand in existence. The Magazine is devoted to rock music published by Hamburg. The first issue was published in June 1981, and was edited by Geoff Barton. In the early 2000s it became the best-selling British music newspaper. Kerrang! is also the market leading, award-winning TV channel with all the biggest and best videos as well as originally filmed interviews and content. We attract over 12K more viewers every month than MTV. Since 1993, the magazine has held an annual awards ceremony to mark the most successful bands in the interests of their readers. The awards became one of Britain's most recognised events by the now defunct Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums.

BBC WORLDWIDE BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned

subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Its aim is to develop the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercials, and reputation worldwide. This is accomplished through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, which is kept in a form that supports the BBC’s values and standards. Furthermore BBC WORLDWIDE champions creativity in Britain globally. By 2014 to 2015, BBC World wide's headline sales were £1,001.8m and headline profits £138.6m. BBC Worldwide helps keep the Licence Fee as low as possible, returning a record £226.5m to the BBC in the last financial year. BBC Worldwide also sells programmes and formats produced by more than 250 British independent producers.

History In 1979 the BBC Enterprises Ltd., was formed, which was a subsidiary

company wholly owned by the BBC. By 1982, the division were growing with divisions responsible for home video, recorded audio, film and merchandising. In 1995 BBC Enterprises Ltd was subsequently reorganised as BBC Worldwide Ltd. In 2007 BBC Worldwide bought a 75% stake in the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet, acquiring the final 25% of the company in 2011.

In 2009, the company was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of the companies growth and success. In 2012, BBC WORLDWIDE began to reorganise their divisions from a product based system to a location based system, resulting in Jana Bennett (responsible for BBC world wide's television channels) leaving the company. BBC Worldwide sold Lonely Planet in 2013 to Kentucky billionaire Brad Kelley's NC2 Media for US$75 million (£51.5 million)

Publications BBC Worldwide's UK Publishing business extends audiences' enjoyment of

BBC programmes through its magazines, digital editions, books and live events. Although some of these are licensed and others are wholly owned, all of them strive to maintain the highest editorial and commercial quality and standards. Some of these Magazines include: BBC Countryfile, BBC Doctor Who, BBC Focus, BBC History, BBC Top Gear, and BBC Wildlife.

BBC History Magazine is Britain’s bestselling history magazine. Issues are published every four weeks globally, in print and digital edition. In each issue they offer fresh perspectives on a wide range of historical topics – everything from Ancient Egypt to the Tudors, medieval life to World War II. Each article is all written by an expert historian, such as Dan Snow, Antony Beevor, Mary Beard and Michael Wood. Throughout, the magazine is written in a knowledgeable yet accessible style and beautifully illustrated with historical images from the periods covered. The BBC History Magazine was launched in May 2000 by BBC Magazines with Greg Neale.

BBC Music Magazine is the world’s best selling Music magazine and is a must for anyone with a passion for classical music. The first issue appeared in June 1992, and releases new issues each month. BBC Worldwide was the original owner and publisher together with the Warner Music Enterprises, but since 2012, Intermediate Media Company have been the publisher. The magazine reflects the broadcast output of BBC Radio 3 being devoted primarily to classical music, though with sections on jazz and world music. Each edition comes together with an audio CD, often including BBC recordings of full-length works. The magazine also features articles on subjects, such as the favourite conductor of professional conductors.