BBC may sell its British magazines

It is considered likely that the BBC will sell its British magazines, to include Top Gear and the Radio Times, after a major strategic review at the corporation.

It is to place "clearer limits" on its commercial division BBC Worldwide, bringing more focus on its digital and international activities, and to "move away from physical media (such as magazines) in the UK."

BBC Worldwide's magazines include the popular Gardening World, BBC Good Food, Radio Times and Top Gear titles.

The BBC is also to dispose of or outsource its non-core assets, including audio books, and will exit non-BBC branded channels overseas.

The strategic review follows criticisms that the corporation has become too large. The BBC Trust had also recommended that steps be taken to secure the corporation's future.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson said the new proposals outline "what the BBC's priorities and limits should be".

The website is to be downsized, some digital radio stations dropped and local services scaled down. The cuts could lead to 600 job losses.

A new focus is to be placed on quality British programmes, with 80% of licence fees to be spent on 'content creation'.

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