Magazine publisher Immediate Media, best known for producing Radio Times, has rebranded its Bristol-based specialist business unit.
Now known as Our Media, the unit employs 350 people in its showpiece city centre offices who work on Immediate’s craft, cycling, science and nature, homes and music titles. 
These include BBC Science Focus, BBC Wildlife Magazine, BBC Countryfile, BikeRadar and Cycling Plus.
Our Media also takes in Immediate’s branded content team, which produces print and digital content and consultancy services for a range of brands, charities and universities, including English Heritage, RSPB and WWF.
The unit’s staff work in a wide range of disciplines from journalism, sales and design to video production, digital and app development as well as commercial, finance and people experts.
The rebrand follows Immediate’s move to a new group organisational structure early last year with the creation of three separate business units – two based in London and one in Bristol – each with its own management team to allow the development of distinct strategies to maximise the growth potential in each of their markets.
Our Media CEO Andy Marshall said it was a “hugely exciting” time for the business. 
“Our new name and the move to a group structure gives us greater autonomy to focus on our own strategic priorities whilst enjoying the benefits of being part of the wider Immediate group,” he said.
“We have amazing people delivering amazing brands and content to our customers and our new name marks a renewed focus for us reflecting the journey we are taking together.
“Content remains central to our success, and we are fast building our offering digitally, through video, audio and live events, to add to our incredible print heritage.
“This strategic focus will also extend to our local community. Bristol is our home, and we aim to play a full part in the growth and development of this amazing city in partnership with people and organisations across the region: together we can be a real force for good.”
Immediate was formed in 2011 when the BBC sold its magazines division to Exponent Private Equity. It was then combined with Bristol-based Origin publishing.
The Bristol office was further expanded in 2014 when Immediate paid £24m for Bath-based media group Future’s sport and magazine titles, including Cycling Plus, Simply Knitting and Mollie Makes. Around 130 Future staff were transferred to Immediate.
During the early stages of the pandemic in June 2020 it announced the closure of seven titles based in its Bristol office and the loss of more than 100 jobs across the business. 
Last month Immediate said total circulation of its titles rose by 5% in the six months to December to just over 2.5m.
Radio Times remained the UK’s best-selling quality magazine with a circulation of 480,938, up 4.3% over the period.
Highlights for Our Media included:
- Gardens Illustrated combined circulation up 16.7% year-on-year with a combined circulation of 49,146.
- BBC Science Focus and BBC Sky at Night also reported increases each securing 11% year-on-year growth. BBC Science Focus posted a combined circulation of 50,142 and BBC Sky at Night 23,082.
- Mountain Biking UK’s circulation continued to rise, boosted by the growing interest in cycling during the pandemic, reporting an increase of 8.7% with a combined circulation of 23,322.
