BBC Worldwide Eyes Private Equity Funds

LONDON, February 7: BBC
Worldwide is in talks with several private-equity groups to raise financing for
possible acquisitions, according to British press reports.

A Financial Times report states that BBC Worldwide is seeking as
much as £1 billion to expand its operations. The commercial arm of the British
pubcaster did confirm to BBC News that it has been in “ongoing conversations”
but declined to comment on the £1 billion quoted in the FT.

BBC Worldwide most
recently took a 15-percent stake in a new, as-yet-unnamed drama and documentary
outfit being set up in conjunction with Hardy & Sons and Left Bank
Pictures. Last year, meanwhile, BBC Worldwide acquired the travel information
group Lonely Planet.

—By Mansha Daswani