Lonely Planet opens London TV office

Travel publisher Lonely Planet is expanding its operations in the UK with the launch of a London-based office to house its television business.

The UK TV arm will be headed by Lonely Planet development director Tom Masters. He has previous worked as a producer for companies including Atlantic Productions, Wark Clements, Princess Productions and Rapido.

Lonely Planet Television executive producer Peter Beilby says it is expanding because the market-leading travel guides have a “large and loyal audience”. He says: “It makes sense to establish a foothold in this market.”

The launch coincides with the UK premiere of its new travel franchise, The BlueList, which has been created in partnership with former vice-president Al Gore’s broadcasting network Current TV.

Lonely Planet TV was established in 2001 and is the production arm of its core travel publishing business, which develops factual programming for international broadcasters. Its flagship series, Lonely Planet Six Degrees, produced for Discovery Networks, is now in its third season screening in over 100 countries.