Jump to content

TI Media: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →History: IPC Magazines
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,430,510 edits
Altered template type. Added date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | Category:Fleetway and IPC Comics | #UCB_Category 2/6
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = TI Media Ltd
| name = TI Media Ltd.
| logo = TI Media logo.svg
| logo = TI Media logo.svg
| former_name = {{Plainlist|
| former_name = {{Plainlist|
Line 11: Line 11:
* Time Inc. UK (2014–2018)
* Time Inc. UK (2014–2018)
}}
}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Acquired by Future plc
| fate = Acquired by [[Future plc]]
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|Consumer marketing|Content and brand licensing|Entertainment|Magazine publishing|News}}
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|Consumer marketing|Content and brand licensing|Entertainment|Magazine publishing|News}}
| successor = [[Future plc]]
| successor = [[Future plc]]
Line 26: Line 27:
}}
}}


'''TI Media''' (formerly '''International Publishing Company''', '''IPC Magazines Ltd''', '''IPC Media''' and '''Time Inc. UK''') was a consumer [[magazine]] and digital publisher in the [[United Kingdom]], with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its titles now belong to [[Future plc]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/future_plc/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=967&newsid=1341444|title=Proposed Acquisition of TI Media for £140 million|date=30 October 2019|website=otp.investis.com|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>
'''TI Media Ltd.''' (formerly '''International Publishing Company''', '''IPC Magazines Ltd''', '''IPC Media''' and '''Time Inc. UK''') was a consumer [[magazine]] and digital publisher in the [[United Kingdom]], with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its titles now belong to [[Future plc]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/future_plc/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=967&newsid=1341444|title=Proposed Acquisition of TI Media for £140 million|date=30 October 2019|website=otp.investis.com|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Line 34: Line 35:


=== Fleetway ===
=== Fleetway ===
In 1958 [[Cecil Harmsworth King]], chairman of the newspaper group, The Daily Mirror Newspapers Limited which included the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' and the ''[[Sunday Pictorial]]'' (now the ''[[Sunday Mirror]]''), together with provincial chain West of England Newspapers, made an offer for [[Amalgamated Press]]. The offer was accepted, and in January 1959 he was appointed its chairman. Within a few months he changed its name to [[Fleetway Publications|Fleetway Publications, Ltd.]] after the name of its headquarters, Fleetway House in London's Farringdon Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dandare.info/history/fleet_history.htm |title=Fleetway – A History |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818034526/http://www.dandare.info/history/fleet_history.htm |archive-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
In 1958 [[Cecil Harmsworth King]], chairman of the newspaper group, The Daily Mirror Newspapers Limited which included the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' and the ''[[Sunday Pictorial]]'' (now the ''[[Sunday Mirror]]''), together with provincial chain West of England Newspapers, made an offer for [[Amalgamated Press]]. The offer was accepted, and in January 1959 he was appointed its chairman.


Shortly thereafter, [[Odhams Press]] absorbed both George Newnes and the Hulton Press. King saw an opportunity in this to rationalise the overcrowded women's magazine market, in which Fleetway and Newnes were the major competitors, and made a bid for Odhams on behalf of Fleetway that was too attractive to ignore. Fleetway took over Odhams in the month of March 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lookandlearn.com/history/Look-and-Learn-History.pdf|title=Look and Learn History|website=www.lookandlearn.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625114842/http://www.lookandlearn.com/history/Look-and-Learn-History.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-09|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Within a few months he changed its name to [[Fleetway Publications|Fleetway Publications, Ltd.]] after the name of its headquarters, Fleetway House in London's Farringdon Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dandare.info/history/fleet_history.htm |website=Dan Dare |title=Fleetway – A History |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818034526/http://www.dandare.info/history/fleet_history.htm |archive-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Shortly thereafter, [[Odhams Press]] absorbed both George Newnes and the Hulton Press. King saw an opportunity in this to rationalise the overcrowded women's magazine market, in which Fleetway and Newnes were the major competitors, and made a bid for Odhams on behalf of Fleetway that was too attractive to ignore. Fleetway took over Odhams in the month of March 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lookandlearn.com/history/Look-and-Learn-History.pdf|title=Look and Learn A History of the Classic Children's Magazine |first1=Steve |last1=Holland |date=2006 |website=Look and Learn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625114842/http://www.lookandlearn.com/history/Look-and-Learn-History.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-09|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


=== International Publishing Company ===
=== International Publishing Company ===
In consequence, King controlled publishing interests which included two national daily and two national Sunday newspapers (the newspaper interests being informally tagged '''The Mirror Group'''), along with almost one hundred consumer magazines, more than two hundred trade and technical periodicals, and interests in book publishing. This included the combined business interests of Fleetway, Odhams, and Newnes.
In consequence, King controlled publishing interests which included two national daily and two national Sunday newspapers (the newspaper interests being informally tagged '''The Mirror Group'''), along with almost one hundred consumer magazines, more than two hundred trade and technical periodicals, and interests in book publishing. This included the combined business interests of Fleetway, Odhams, and Newnes.


All of the companies involved had been acquired without any significant change in management, save for the appointment of Mirror Group directors as chairmen. In 1963 all the companies were combined by the creation of a parent (or "holding") company called the '''International Publishing Company''' (known informally as '''IPC'''). All of the existing companies would continue to exist, but as IPC subsidiaries.<ref name="Birch">Birch, Paul. [http://blogs.birminghammail.net/speechballoon/2008/12/speaking-frankly.html "Speaking Frankly,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720075859/http://blogs.birminghammail.net/speechballoon/2008/12/speaking-frankly.html |date=20 July 2011 }} ''Birmingham Mail'' (14 December 2008).</ref>
All of the companies involved had been acquired without any significant change in management, save for the appointment of Mirror Group directors as chairmen. In 1963 all the companies were combined by the creation of a parent (or "holding") company called the '''International Publishing Company''' (known informally as '''IPC'''). All of the existing companies would continue to exist, but as IPC subsidiaries.<ref name="Birch">{{cite web |last1=Birch |first1=Paul |url=http://blogs.birminghammail.net/speechballoon/2008/12/speaking-frankly.html |title=Speaking Frankly... |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720075859/http://blogs.birminghammail.net/speechballoon/2008/12/speaking-frankly.html |archive-date=20 July 2011 |publisher=Birmingham Mail |work=Speech Balloon |date=14 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


IPC then set up a management development department in 1965, to rationalise its holdings, so that its various subsidiaries would no longer be in competition with each other for the same markets. This led to a reorganisation of the Group, in 1968, into six divisions:
IPC then set up a management development department in 1965, to rationalise its holdings, so that its various subsidiaries would no longer be in competition with each other for the same markets. This led to a reorganisation of the Group, in 1968, into six divisions:


* IPC Newspapers – including ''[[The People]]'' and ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)#The Sun before Rupert Murdoch|The Sun]]'' (soon sold), as well as the ''Daily Mirror'' and ''Sunday Pictorial''
* IPC Newspapers – including ''[[The Sunday People|The People]]'' and ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)#The Sun before Rupert Murdoch|The Sun]]'' (soon sold), as well as the ''Daily Mirror'' and ''Sunday Mirror''
* IPC Magazines – consumer magazines and comics
* IPC Magazines – consumer magazines and comics
* IPC Trade and Technical – specialist magazines (later known as '''IPC Business Press Ltd.''')
* IPC Trade and Technical – specialist magazines (later known as '''IPC Business Press Ltd.''')
Line 55: Line 58:


==== IPC Magazines ====
==== IPC Magazines ====
The turmoil at IPC in 1969 led to major consolidations in the joint comics publishing divisions, IPC Magazines Ltd., which was under the responsibility of [[Jack Legrand]], formerly the Managing Editor of Fleetway's juvenile publications.<ref>Coates, Alan and David. "Smash!" ''British Comic World'' #3 (A. & D. Coates, June 1984), p. 17.</ref> Odhams' [[Power Comics]] line of titles were canceled, as was [[Hulton Press]]'s long-running adventure comic ''[[Eagle (British comics)|Eagle]]'' (merging with Fleetway's ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]'' from 2 May 1969). The humour comic ''Giggle'', aimed at the slightly younger market dominated by Fleetway's ''[[Buster (comics)|Buster]]'', was also dropped, being merged into ''Buster'' in the spring of 1969.<ref>[https://britishcomics.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/buster-60s/ "Buster,"] British Comics website (October 29, 2018).</ref> ''Buster'', like Odhams' ''[[Smash! (comics)|Smash!]]'', also now became a publication of IPC Magazines Ltd. (IPC Magazines also took over another UK publisher, [[City Magazines]], around this time.)
The turmoil at IPC in 1969 led to major consolidations in the joint comics publishing divisions, IPC Magazines Ltd., which was under the responsibility of Jack Legrand, formerly the Managing Editor of Fleetway's juvenile publications.<ref>Coates, Alan and David. "Smash!" ''British Comic World'' #3 (A. & D. Coates, June 1984), p. 17.</ref> Odhams' [[Power Comics]] line of titles were cancelled, as was [[Hulton Press]]'s long-running adventure comic ''[[Eagle (British comics)|Eagle]]'' (merging with Fleetway's ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]'' from 2 May 1969). The humour comic ''Giggle'', aimed at the slightly younger market dominated by Fleetway's ''[[Buster (comics)|Buster]]'', was also dropped, being merged into ''Buster'' in the spring of 1969.<ref>[https://britishcomics.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/buster-60s/ "Buster,"] British Comics website (October 29, 2018).</ref> ''Buster'', like Odhams' ''[[Smash! (comics)|Smash!]]'', also now became a publication of IPC Magazines Ltd. (IPC Magazines also took over another UK publisher, [[City Magazines]], around this time.)


=== Reed International takeover ===
=== Reed International takeover ===
Line 64: Line 67:
| url = http://thoughtmaybe.com/every-day-is-like-sunday/}}</ref> with his deputy chairman, [[Hugh Cudlipp]], a former newspaper editor.<ref name=IrishTimes>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2004 |first=Wesley |last=Boyd |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.1165298 |title=An Irishman's Diary|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref> Cudlipp had no interest in management, and was uneasy both with his new role and with IPC's diversification into computerised publication and other new technology. In 1969, Cudlipp proposed to former Mirror Group director [[Don Ryder]] — who was then chairman of the Reed Group, in which IPC had a 30% shareholding — to mount a [[reverse takeover]] of IPC by Reed. IPC-Mirror Group was thus itself taken over in 1970, by the paper-making company [[Albert Edwin Reed|Albert E Reed]], which then renamed itself [[Reed International]].<ref>[http://www.ketupa.net/elsevier2.htm Reed Elsevier profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050627025717/http://www.ketupa.net//elsevier2.htm |date=27 June 2005 }} on ketupa.net</ref> In 1974, part of the publishing interests of Reed International were separated into ''IPC Magazines Ltd'' (comprising the magazine and comics holdings) and [[Mirror Group Newspapers]] (comprising the newspaper holdings). The latter was sold to Pergamon Holdings Ltd, a private company owned by [[Robert Maxwell]], in 1984.<ref>[http://www.trinitymirror.com/group/history/ Trinity Mirror Group History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914075256/http://www.trinitymirror.com/group/history/ |date=14 September 2008 }} on the Trinity Mirror Group website</ref>
| url = http://thoughtmaybe.com/every-day-is-like-sunday/}}</ref> with his deputy chairman, [[Hugh Cudlipp]], a former newspaper editor.<ref name=IrishTimes>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 2004 |first=Wesley |last=Boyd |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.1165298 |title=An Irishman's Diary|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref> Cudlipp had no interest in management, and was uneasy both with his new role and with IPC's diversification into computerised publication and other new technology. In 1969, Cudlipp proposed to former Mirror Group director [[Don Ryder]] — who was then chairman of the Reed Group, in which IPC had a 30% shareholding — to mount a [[reverse takeover]] of IPC by Reed. IPC-Mirror Group was thus itself taken over in 1970, by the paper-making company [[Albert Edwin Reed|Albert E Reed]], which then renamed itself [[Reed International]].<ref>[http://www.ketupa.net/elsevier2.htm Reed Elsevier profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050627025717/http://www.ketupa.net//elsevier2.htm |date=27 June 2005 }} on ketupa.net</ref> In 1974, part of the publishing interests of Reed International were separated into ''IPC Magazines Ltd'' (comprising the magazine and comics holdings) and [[Mirror Group Newspapers]] (comprising the newspaper holdings). The latter was sold to Pergamon Holdings Ltd, a private company owned by [[Robert Maxwell]], in 1984.<ref>[http://www.trinitymirror.com/group/history/ Trinity Mirror Group History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914075256/http://www.trinitymirror.com/group/history/ |date=14 September 2008 }} on the Trinity Mirror Group website</ref>


In 1988, IPC acquired ''[[Family Circle (UK magazine)|Family Circle]]'' from the [[International Thomson Organization]].<ref>{{Cite book| last = Norton| first = Frances E.| title = International Directory of Company Histories| chapter = IPC Magazines Limited| access-date = 15 May 2018| chapter-url = https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/ipc-magazines-limited|via=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> In 1989, IPC acquired ''[[TVTimes]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Devitt | first = Maureen | title = Scottish Television profit 21% brighter | work = Herald Scotland | access-date = 23 August 2014 | url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/archive/headline.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154938/http://www.heraldscotland.com/archive/headline.html | archive-date = 5 September 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In the early 1990s IPC launched ''[[Loaded (magazine)|Loaded]]'', which began a wave of "[[Lad mag|lad's mags]]".
In 1988, IPC acquired ''[[Family Circle (UK magazine)|Family Circle]]'' from the [[International Thomson Organization]].<ref>{{Cite book| last = Norton| first = Frances E.| title = International Directory of Company Histories| chapter = IPC Magazines Limited| access-date = 15 May 2018| chapter-url = https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/ipc-magazines-limited|via=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> In 1989, IPC acquired ''[[TVTimes]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Devitt | first = Maureen | title = Scottish Television profit 21% brighter | work = Herald Scotland | date = 26 January 2012 | access-date = 23 August 2014 | url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/archive/headline.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154938/http://www.heraldscotland.com/archive/headline.html | archive-date = 5 September 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In the early 1990s IPC launched ''[[Loaded (magazine)|Loaded]]'', which began a wave of "[[Lad mag|lad's mags]]".


In 1992, following a merger with Dutch science publisher [[Elsevier|Elsevier NV]], Reed International underwent a further name change, becoming Reed Elsevier (now [[RELX Group]]).
In 1992, following a merger with Dutch science publisher [[Elsevier|Elsevier NV]], Reed International underwent a further name change, becoming Reed Elsevier (now [[RELX Group]]).
Line 74: Line 77:
In 1991, [[Egmont (media group)|Egmont UK]] purchased Fleetway from Pergamon, merging it with their own comics publishing operation, London Editions, to form '''Fleetway Editions'''. The latter was absorbed into the main Egmont brand by 2000, having sold off the continuing titles (such as ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]''), and continued with only reprint and licensed titles (e.g. ''[[Sonic The Comic]]'').
In 1991, [[Egmont (media group)|Egmont UK]] purchased Fleetway from Pergamon, merging it with their own comics publishing operation, London Editions, to form '''Fleetway Editions'''. The latter was absorbed into the main Egmont brand by 2000, having sold off the continuing titles (such as ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]''), and continued with only reprint and licensed titles (e.g. ''[[Sonic The Comic]]'').


IPC had retained the other comics characters and titles, i.e. those created before 1970 (except the 26 characters from ''Buster''), including [[Sexton Blake]], [[Steel Claw|The Steel Claw]], and [[Battler Britton]].<ref name="Birch" /> One character, [[Dan Dare]], was sold separately and is currently owned by the Dan Dare Corporation. In 2016 and 2018, Egmont sold its remaining library of IPC/Fleetway to [[Rebellion Developments]], who had previously acquired ''2000 AD'' in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bunge|first1=Nicole|title=REBELLION ACQUIRES FLEETWAY AND IPC YOUTH GROUP ARCHIVES|url=http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35362/rebellion-acquires-fleetway-ipc-youth-group-archives|website=ICv2|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204238/http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35362/rebellion-acquires-fleetway-ipc-youth-group-archives|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Rich|title=Rebellion Buys Fleetway Archive – Roy of the Rovers, Oink, Tammy, Battle, Whizzer And Chips And More|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/08/25/rebellion-buys-fleetway-archive-roy-of-the-rovers-oink-tammy-battle-whizzer-and-chips-and-more/|website=Bleeding Cool|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031171626/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/08/25/rebellion-buys-fleetway-archive-roy-of-the-rovers-oink-tammy-battle-whizzer-and-chips-and-more/|archive-date=31 October 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Graeme |title='2000 AD' Publisher Acquires TI Media Comic Archive |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/2000-ad-publisher-rebellion-acquires-ti-media-comic-archive-1147926 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>
IPC had retained the other comics characters and titles, i.e. those created before 1970 (except the 26 characters from ''Buster''), including [[Sexton Blake]], [[Steel Claw|The Steel Claw]], and [[Battler Britton]].<ref name="Birch" /> One character, [[Dan Dare]], was sold separately and is currently owned by the Dan Dare Corporation. In 2016 and 2018, Egmont sold its remaining library of IPC/Fleetway to [[Rebellion Developments]], who had previously acquired ''2000 AD'' in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bunge|first1=Nicole|title=REBELLION ACQUIRES FLEETWAY AND IPC YOUTH GROUP ARCHIVES|url=http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35362/rebellion-acquires-fleetway-ipc-youth-group-archives|website=ICv2|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204238/http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35362/rebellion-acquires-fleetway-ipc-youth-group-archives|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Rich|title=Rebellion Buys Fleetway Archive – Roy of the Rovers, Oink, Tammy, Battle, Whizzer And Chips And More|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/08/25/rebellion-buys-fleetway-archive-roy-of-the-rovers-oink-tammy-battle-whizzer-and-chips-and-more/|website=Bleeding Cool|date=25 August 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031171626/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/08/25/rebellion-buys-fleetway-archive-roy-of-the-rovers-oink-tammy-battle-whizzer-and-chips-and-more/|archive-date=31 October 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Graeme |title='2000 AD' Publisher Acquires TI Media Comic Archive |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/2000-ad-publisher-rebellion-acquires-ti-media-comic-archive-1147926 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>


=== Time Inc. takeover ===
=== Time Inc. takeover ===
In 1998, IPC Magazines Ltd was subject to a [[management buyout]] financed by [[Cinven]], a [[venture capital]] group, and the company was renamed IPC Media. Cinven then sold the company to [[Time Inc.]], then the magazine publishing subsidiary of [[Time Warner]], in 2001.<ref>[http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,668881,00.html Time Inc to acquire IPC from Cinven] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219031544/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,668881,00.html |date=19 February 2005 }} from [[Time Warner]] website</ref> In January 2009, Evelyn Webster became the company's chief executive, replacing Sylvia Auton who had run it since 2001
In 1998, IPC Magazines Ltd was subject to a [[management buyout]] financed by [[Cinven]], a [[venture capital]] group, and the company was renamed IPC Media. Cinven then sold the company to [[Time Inc.]], then the magazine publishing subsidiary of [[Time Warner]] (now [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]), in 2001.<ref>[http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,668881,00.html Time Inc to acquire IPC from Cinven] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219031544/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,668881,00.html |date=19 February 2005 }} from [[Time Warner]] website</ref> In January 2009, Evelyn Webster became the company's chief executive, replacing Sylvia Auton who had run it since 2001


IPC Media formally became Time Inc. UK in September 2014, creating a single Time Inc. brand in both the US and UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timeincuk.com/about/news/press-release/time-inc-rebrands-ipc-media-time-inc-uk/ |title=Time Inc. Rebrands IPC Media Time Inc. UK |access-date=4 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905004720/http://www.timeincuk.com/about/news/press-release/time-inc-rebrands-ipc-media-time-inc-uk/ |archive-date=5 September 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
IPC Media formally became Time Inc. UK in September 2014, creating a single Time Inc. brand in both the US and UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timeincuk.com/about/news/press-release/time-inc-rebrands-ipc-media-time-inc-uk/ |title=Time Inc. Rebrands IPC Media Time Inc. UK |access-date=4 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905004720/http://www.timeincuk.com/about/news/press-release/time-inc-rebrands-ipc-media-time-inc-uk/ |archive-date=5 September 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Line 85: Line 88:
===2018 sale to Epiris===
===2018 sale to Epiris===


On 26 February 2018, [[Meredith Corporation]], who had completed its purchase of Time Inc. almost a month earlier, announced it was selling Time Inc. UK to a fund associated with British private equity firm [[Epiris]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-reaches-agreement-to-sell-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300603804.html |title=Meredith Corporation Reaches Agreement To Sell Time Inc. UK To Epiris |access-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152141/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-reaches-agreement-to-sell-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300603804.html |archive-date=16 March 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The transaction closed on 19 March of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-finalizes-sale-of-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300616021.html |title=Meredith Corporation Finalizes Sale Of Time Inc. UK To Epiris |access-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326205918/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-finalizes-sale-of-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300616021.html |archive-date=26 March 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In June 2018, the company was renamed TI Media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/05/24/time-inc-uk-unveils-rebrand-ti-media|title=Time Inc UK unveils rebrand to Ti Media|last=McCarthy|first=John|date=24 May 2018|publisher=The Drum|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181209090426/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/05/24/time-inc-uk-unveils-rebrand-ti-media|archive-date=9 December 2018|url-status=live|access-date=17 June 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In September 2018, TI Media sold its library of pre-1970 IPC Comics titles to Rebellion Developments.<ref name="auto"/> In 2019, TI Media sold its music magazines to BandLab Technologies.<ref>{{Cite web| title = TI Media sells music titles NME and Uncut to music platform BandLab| access-date = 2019-07-15| url = https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ti-media-sells-music-titles-nme-and-uncut-to-social-music-platform-company-bandlab/}}</ref>
On 26 February 2018, [[Meredith Corporation]], who had completed its purchase of Time Inc. almost a month earlier, announced it was selling Time Inc. UK to a fund associated with British private equity firm [[Epiris]].<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-reaches-agreement-to-sell-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300603804.html |title=Meredith Corporation Reaches Agreement To Sell Time Inc. UK To Epiris |access-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152141/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-reaches-agreement-to-sell-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300603804.html |archive-date=16 March 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The transaction closed on 19 March of that year.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-finalizes-sale-of-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300616021.html |title=Meredith Corporation Finalizes Sale Of Time Inc. UK To Epiris |access-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326205918/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meredith-corporation-finalizes-sale-of-time-inc-uk-to-epiris-300616021.html |archive-date=26 March 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In June 2018, the company was renamed TI Media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/05/24/time-inc-uk-unveils-rebrand-ti-media|title=Time Inc UK unveils rebrand to Ti Media|last=McCarthy|first=John|date=24 May 2018|publisher=The Drum|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181209090426/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/05/24/time-inc-uk-unveils-rebrand-ti-media|archive-date=9 December 2018|url-status=live|access-date=17 June 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In September 2018, TI Media sold its library of pre-1970 IPC Comics titles to Rebellion Developments.<ref name="auto"/> In 2019, TI Media sold its music magazines to BandLab Technologies.<ref>{{Cite web| title = TI Media sells music titles NME and Uncut to music platform BandLab| date = 17 May 2019| access-date = 2019-07-15| url = https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ti-media-sells-music-titles-nme-and-uncut-to-social-music-platform-company-bandlab/}}</ref>


=== 2020 acquisition by Future ===
=== 2020 acquisition by Future ===
TI Media was acquired by [[Future plc]] on 21 April 2020 following shareholder and Competition and Markets Authority approval.<ref name=":0" /> Future subsequently divested ''[[Amateur Photographer]]'', [[Trusted Reviews]], and ''[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Twitter|first=Freddy Mayhew|date=2020-04-20|title=Future completes £140m takeover of TI Media as coronavirus hits both businesses|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/future-completes-140m-takeover-of-ti-media-as-coronavirus-hits-both-businesses/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-25|website=[[Press Gazette]]|language=en-gb}}</ref> and absorbed the rest of TI Media into Future Publishing.
TI Media was acquired by [[Future plc]] on 21 April 2020 following shareholder and Competition and Markets Authority approval.<ref name=":0" /> Future subsequently divested ''[[Amateur Photographer]]'', [[Trusted Reviews]], and ''[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mayhew|first=Freddy|date=2020-04-20|title=Future completes £140m takeover of TI Media as coronavirus hits both businesses|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/future-completes-140m-takeover-of-ti-media-as-coronavirus-hits-both-businesses/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=[[Press Gazette]]|language=en-gb}}</ref> and absorbed the rest of TI Media into Future Publishing.


==Publishing divisions==
==Publishing divisions==
Line 138: Line 141:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|35em}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Howard Cox and Simon Mowatt, "Monopoly, Power and Politics in Fleet Street: The Controversial Birth of IPC Magazines, 1958–63 " [http://www.thebhc.org/sites/default/files/coxandmowatt_0.pdf ''Business and economic history online'' (2014) #12 ]
* Howard Cox and Simon Mowatt, "Monopoly, Power and Politics in Fleet Street: The Controversial Birth of IPC Magazines, 1958–63 " [http://www.thebhc.org/sites/default/files/coxandmowatt_0.pdf ''Business and economic history online'' (2014) #12 ]
⚫
{{portal|Companies}}


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
{{portal|Companies}}
* {{official website|http://www.ti-media.com/}}
* {{official website|http://www.ti-media.com/}}


Line 150: Line 153:
{{TI Media}}
{{TI Media}}


[[Category:Future plc]]
[[Category:Fleetway and IPC Comics]]
[[Category:Fleetway and IPC Comics]]
[[Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United Kingdom]]
Line 160: Line 164:
[[Category:Publishing companies disestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:Publishing companies disestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:Publishing companies based in London]]
[[Category:Publishing companies based in London]]
[[Category:Former WarnerMedia subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Former Time Warner subsidiaries]]
[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2001 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2001 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Disney comics publishers]]

Latest revision as of 23:55, 18 December 2024

TI Media Ltd.
Formerly
  • International Publishing Company (1963–1968)
  • IPC Magazines Ltd (1968–1998)
  • IPC Media (1998–2014)
  • Time Inc. UK (2014–2018)
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
  • Consumer marketing
  • Content and brand licensing
  • Entertainment
  • Magazine publishing
  • News
Founded1963; 62 years ago (1963)
Defunct2020 (2020)
FateAcquired by Future plc
SuccessorFuture plc
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom

TI Media Ltd. (formerly International Publishing Company, IPC Magazines Ltd, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) was a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its titles now belong to Future plc.[1]

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

The British magazine publishing industry in the mid-1950s was dominated by a handful of companies, principally the Associated Newspapers (founded by Lord Harmsworth in 1890), Odhams Press Ltd, Newnes/Pearson, and the Hulton Press, which fought each other for market share in a highly competitive marketplace.

Fleetway

[edit]

In 1958 Cecil Harmsworth King, chairman of the newspaper group, The Daily Mirror Newspapers Limited which included the Daily Mirror and the Sunday Pictorial (now the Sunday Mirror), together with provincial chain West of England Newspapers, made an offer for Amalgamated Press. The offer was accepted, and in January 1959 he was appointed its chairman.

Within a few months he changed its name to Fleetway Publications, Ltd. after the name of its headquarters, Fleetway House in London's Farringdon Street.[2]

Shortly thereafter, Odhams Press absorbed both George Newnes and the Hulton Press. King saw an opportunity in this to rationalise the overcrowded women's magazine market, in which Fleetway and Newnes were the major competitors, and made a bid for Odhams on behalf of Fleetway that was too attractive to ignore. Fleetway took over Odhams in the month of March 1961.[3]

International Publishing Company

[edit]

In consequence, King controlled publishing interests which included two national daily and two national Sunday newspapers (the newspaper interests being informally tagged The Mirror Group), along with almost one hundred consumer magazines, more than two hundred trade and technical periodicals, and interests in book publishing. This included the combined business interests of Fleetway, Odhams, and Newnes.

All of the companies involved had been acquired without any significant change in management, save for the appointment of Mirror Group directors as chairmen. In 1963 all the companies were combined by the creation of a parent (or "holding") company called the International Publishing Company (known informally as IPC). All of the existing companies would continue to exist, but as IPC subsidiaries.[4]

IPC then set up a management development department in 1965, to rationalise its holdings, so that its various subsidiaries would no longer be in competition with each other for the same markets. This led to a reorganisation of the Group, in 1968, into six divisions:

  • IPC Newspapers – including The People and The Sun (soon sold), as well as the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror
  • IPC Magazines – consumer magazines and comics
  • IPC Trade and Technical – specialist magazines (later known as IPC Business Press Ltd.)
  • IPC Books – all book publishing (headed by Paul Hamlyn, whose own company had been acquired by IPC).
  • IPC Printing – all non-newspaper printing operations (headed by Arnold Quick, whose own company had also been acquired by IPC).
  • IPC New Products – launching pad for products that used new technology (headed by Alistair McIntosh).

All the divisions were headed by chairmen who originated in Mirror Group, except for Hamlyn, Quick and McIntosh.

IPC Magazines

[edit]

The turmoil at IPC in 1969 led to major consolidations in the joint comics publishing divisions, IPC Magazines Ltd., which was under the responsibility of Jack Legrand, formerly the Managing Editor of Fleetway's juvenile publications.[5] Odhams' Power Comics line of titles were cancelled, as was Hulton Press's long-running adventure comic Eagle (merging with Fleetway's Lion from 2 May 1969). The humour comic Giggle, aimed at the slightly younger market dominated by Fleetway's Buster, was also dropped, being merged into Buster in the spring of 1969.[6] Buster, like Odhams' Smash!, also now became a publication of IPC Magazines Ltd. (IPC Magazines also took over another UK publisher, City Magazines, around this time.)

Reed International takeover

[edit]

In May 1968, a boardroom coup had replaced Cecil King[7] with his deputy chairman, Hugh Cudlipp, a former newspaper editor.[8] Cudlipp had no interest in management, and was uneasy both with his new role and with IPC's diversification into computerised publication and other new technology. In 1969, Cudlipp proposed to former Mirror Group director Don Ryder — who was then chairman of the Reed Group, in which IPC had a 30% shareholding — to mount a reverse takeover of IPC by Reed. IPC-Mirror Group was thus itself taken over in 1970, by the paper-making company Albert E Reed, which then renamed itself Reed International.[9] In 1974, part of the publishing interests of Reed International were separated into IPC Magazines Ltd (comprising the magazine and comics holdings) and Mirror Group Newspapers (comprising the newspaper holdings). The latter was sold to Pergamon Holdings Ltd, a private company owned by Robert Maxwell, in 1984.[10]

In 1988, IPC acquired Family Circle from the International Thomson Organization.[11] In 1989, IPC acquired TVTimes.[12] In the early 1990s IPC launched Loaded, which began a wave of "lad's mags".

In 1992, following a merger with Dutch science publisher Elsevier NV, Reed International underwent a further name change, becoming Reed Elsevier (now RELX Group).

Sale of Fleetway

[edit]
Main article: Fleetway

In 1987, part of the comics holdings of IPC Magazines Ltd (comprising those comics and characters created after 1 January 1970, plus 26 specified characters from Buster, which was then still being published) were placed in a separate company, Fleetway Publications, which was sold to Pergamon Holdings.[4][13]

In 1991, Egmont UK purchased Fleetway from Pergamon, merging it with their own comics publishing operation, London Editions, to form Fleetway Editions. The latter was absorbed into the main Egmont brand by 2000, having sold off the continuing titles (such as 2000 AD), and continued with only reprint and licensed titles (e.g. Sonic The Comic).

IPC had retained the other comics characters and titles, i.e. those created before 1970 (except the 26 characters from Buster), including Sexton Blake, The Steel Claw, and Battler Britton.[4] One character, Dan Dare, was sold separately and is currently owned by the Dan Dare Corporation. In 2016 and 2018, Egmont sold its remaining library of IPC/Fleetway to Rebellion Developments, who had previously acquired 2000 AD in 2000.[14][15][16]

Time Inc. takeover

[edit]

In 1998, IPC Magazines Ltd was subject to a management buyout financed by Cinven, a venture capital group, and the company was renamed IPC Media. Cinven then sold the company to Time Inc., then the magazine publishing subsidiary of Time Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery), in 2001.[17] In January 2009, Evelyn Webster became the company's chief executive, replacing Sylvia Auton who had run it since 2001

IPC Media formally became Time Inc. UK in September 2014, creating a single Time Inc. brand in both the US and UK.[18]

In April 2012, IPC Media won an award for Best Production Team of the Year at the Professional Publishers Association Production and Environment Awards 2012.[19]

2018 sale to Epiris

[edit]

On 26 February 2018, Meredith Corporation, who had completed its purchase of Time Inc. almost a month earlier, announced it was selling Time Inc. UK to a fund associated with British private equity firm Epiris.[20] The transaction closed on 19 March of that year.[21] In June 2018, the company was renamed TI Media.[22] In September 2018, TI Media sold its library of pre-1970 IPC Comics titles to Rebellion Developments.[16] In 2019, TI Media sold its music magazines to BandLab Technologies.[23]

2020 acquisition by Future

[edit]

TI Media was acquired by Future plc on 21 April 2020 following shareholder and Competition and Markets Authority approval.[1] Future subsequently divested Amateur Photographer, Trusted Reviews, and World Soccer[24] and absorbed the rest of TI Media into Future Publishing.

Publishing divisions

[edit]

TI Media divisions up until Future plc acquisition including:[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Proposed Acquisition of TI Media for £140 million". otp.investis.com. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Fleetway – A History". Dan Dare. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  3. ^ Holland, Steve (2006). "Look and Learn A History of the Classic Children's Magazine" (PDF). Look and Learn. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Birch, Paul (14 December 2008). "Speaking Frankly..." Speech Balloon. Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011.
  5. ^ Coates, Alan and David. "Smash!" British Comic World #3 (A. & D. Coates, June 1984), p. 17.
  6. ^ "Buster," British Comics website (October 29, 2018).
  7. ^ Adam Curtis (2011). Every Day is Like Sunday.
  8. ^ Boyd, Wesley (6 November 2004). "An Irishman's Diary". The Irish Times.
  9. ^ Reed Elsevier profile Archived 27 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine on ketupa.net
  10. ^ Trinity Mirror Group History Archived 14 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine on the Trinity Mirror Group website
  11. ^ Norton, Frances E. "IPC Magazines Limited". International Directory of Company Histories. Retrieved 15 May 2018 – via Encyclopedia.com.
  12. ^ Devitt, Maureen (26 January 2012). "Scottish Television profit 21% brighter". Herald Scotland. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  13. ^ History of IPC Media Archived 8 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine on the IPC Media website
  14. ^ Bunge, Nicole. "REBELLION ACQUIRES FLEETWAY AND IPC YOUTH GROUP ARCHIVES". ICv2. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  15. ^ Johnston, Rich (25 August 2016). "Rebellion Buys Fleetway Archive – Roy of the Rovers, Oink, Tammy, Battle, Whizzer And Chips And More". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  16. ^ a b McMillan, Graeme (28 September 2018). "'2000 AD' Publisher Acquires TI Media Comic Archive". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  17. ^ Time Inc to acquire IPC from Cinven Archived 19 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine from Time Warner website
  18. ^ "Time Inc. Rebrands IPC Media Time Inc. UK". Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Emagine from Rhapsody helps IPC Inspire secure PPA Award".
  20. ^ "Meredith Corporation Reaches Agreement To Sell Time Inc. UK To Epiris" (Press release). Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Meredith Corporation Finalizes Sale Of Time Inc. UK To Epiris" (Press release). Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  22. ^ McCarthy, John (24 May 2018). "Time Inc UK unveils rebrand to Ti Media". The Drum. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  23. ^ "TI Media sells music titles NME and Uncut to music platform BandLab". 17 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  24. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (20 April 2020). "Future completes £140m takeover of TI Media as coronavirus hits both businesses". Press Gazette. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Brands". TI Media. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TI_Media&oldid=1263844043"