BBC History Magazine plans branded holidays venture

BBC Worldwide’s History Magazine is looking at launching holidays under its History Magazine brand.

The BBC has revealed that sales for the title’s first three issues have averaged 52,000. But the magazine has yet to reach a reported settle-down target figure of 70,000.

The holidays, based around historical or archeological sites, would be organised through a third party and would take the format of a tour, cruise or dig. Historians with a TV profile, such as Michael Wood, may be asked to lead exclusive tours.

BBC Worldwide’s Gardener’s World magazine has run several own-branded cruises and short breaks themed around gardening.

As first revealed in Marketing Week (June 10, 1999), the Radio Times is to launch a film guide in October. The A-Z directory, called the Radio Times Guide to Films, has been compiled using a database of more than 20,000 reviews. It will feature an introduction by Barry Norman.

Radio Times publisher Ashley Munday says: “Our film database will be the launch-pad for a number of future publishing ventures, including books, magazines and digital projects.”

Six separate pocket guides, focusing on individual film legends such as Michael Caine and Elizabeth Taylor, will go on sale under the Radio Times brand, priced at &£3.99.

BBC Worldwide is also launching two new children’s educational magazines. The Magic Key accompanies a new TV programme of the same name, while Number Time is designed to make maths and numbers more entertaining.

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