Immediate Media Co.

What Immediate Media Co. does

Immediate Media Co. is a UK-based special interest content and platform company that operates a portfolio of consumer media brands reaching 21 million UK adults monthly - more than a third of the country's adult population. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in London with offices in Bristol, Manchester, and Nottingham, the company employs 501-1,000 staff and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Germany's Hubert Burda Media. Its brand portfolio spans food (Good Food, olive, Easy Cook, Nutracheck), entertainment (Radio Times), gardening (BBC Gardeners' World Magazine), history (HistoryExtra), parenting (MadeForMums), motoring (BBC Top Gear Magazine), and youth/children's titles (CBeebies, Bluey, BBC Match of the Day, LEGO), several of which are licensed from the BBC.

The company operates a multi-channel content and commerce platform built on a proprietary CMS called Fabric that powers websites, apps, podcasts, video, and print titles. Its advertising infrastructure centres on PRISM, a first-party data platform powered by Permutive that processes 4.7 million daily data points across 2,000+ audience segments and is anchored by direct subscriber relationships with 13 million magazine readers. Supporting advertising products include Imagine Studio (in-house creative production), IM Clear (a sustainability measurement framework for advertisers), and the newly launched IX experiential agency.

Immediate monetises through six streams: print and digital subscriptions (13M paid subscribers, 25M magazines sold in 2025), cross-platform advertising, affiliate commerce (notably via Good Food), consumer live events (Good Food Show, BBC Gardeners' World Live, Radio Times Festival), app subscriptions (Nutracheck, Good Food app), and international licensing across 70+ markets. The company sells directly to consumers via owned sites and apps and to advertisers via a sales team, with named advertiser relationships spanning Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Sky, LEGO, eBay, Morrisons, Lidl, and major food brands.

Name

Immediate Media Co.

Legal name

Immediate Media Company Limited

Website

http://www.immediate.co.uk/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Immediate Media Co. is a UK special interest content and platform company operating a portfolio of BBC-licensed and owned consumer brands across food, entertainment, gardening, history, parenting, and motoring, reaching 21 million UK adults monthly through magazines, digital, podcasts, apps, and live events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Media Publishing

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos) (MPAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying (MPAAABAA), Digital Content & Media Subscriptions (CRAFAIAA)

Keywords

• Special interest publishing
• Consumer media brands
• Magazine subscription services
• Digital content platforms
• Branded advertising solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Recurring subscription revenue from digital and print magazine subscriptions. Immediate has more paid subscribers than any other UK magazine publisher with 13 million magazines sold on subscription (ABC Jan-Dec 2025).
2. Advertising: Cross-platform advertising revenue across digital, print, social, commerce, podcasts, and live events. Advertisers include major brands across food, entertainment, automotive, parenting and lifestyle sectors. 2,000+ unique audience segments available through PRISM data platform.
3. Commerce & Affiliate: Expert, trusted recommendations that convert combining editorial authority with smart data to help partners reach high-intent audiences and drive sales. Includes affiliate commerce through Good Food brand.
4. Live Events: Revenue from consumer-facing live events including Good Food Show, BBC Gardeners' World Live, Radio Times Festival, Move It, and other experiential events. Over 40 experiential partnerships portfolio.
5. Licensing & Syndication: International licensing revenue with more than 70 international licences. Extends trusted brands worldwide through quality, credible content partnerships.
6. App Subscriptions: Revenue from mobile applications including Nutracheck calorie tracking app (4.8 star rating), Good Food app with exclusive recipes and meal plans (183k subscribers), and other brand apps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Immediate Media Co. is a UK special interest content and platform company that publishes trusted consumer brands including Radio Times, Good Food, BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, HistoryExtra, olive, MadeForMums, BBC Top Gear Magazine, and Nutracheck across magazines, websites, mobile apps, podcasts, video, and live events. It monetises primarily through consumer subscriptions (13 million magazine subscribers), cross-platform advertising (supported by the PRISM first-party data platform), affiliate commerce, and international brand licensing.

Product overview

Immediate Media Co. is a multi-platform consumer media company operating a portfolio of iconic UK brands across food, entertainment, gardening, history, parenting, motoring, and children's content. The company offers content through magazines, innovative digital products (websites and mobile apps), podcasts, video channels, and live events. Key brands include Radio Times, Good Food, BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, HistoryExtra, olive, MadeForMums, Top Gear, and Nutracheck (calorie tracking app). The company also provides advertising solutions including PRISM (first-party data platform), IM Clear (sustainability framework), and Imagine Studio (creative production), plus IX experiential agency. Founded in 2011 and part of BurdaInternational/Hubert Burda Media, Immediate reaches 21 million people monthly with over 25 million magazines sold in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Radio Times: UK's favourite entertainment brand covering TV, film, radio, streaming, gaming and podcasts since 1923.
• Good Food
• Nutracheck
• BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
• HistoryExtra
• olive
• Youth & Children's
• MadeForMums
• Easy Cook
• BBC Top Gear Magazine

Products and services

• Radio Times
• Good Food
• Nutracheck
• BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
• HistoryExtra
• Olive Magazine
• Youth & Children's Magazines
• MadeForMums
• Easy Cook
• BBC Top Gear Magazine
• PRISM Data Platform
• IM Clear
• Imagine Studio
• IX Experiential Agency
• Good Food Show & BBC Gardeners' World Live

Quantifiable outcome

• Audiences spend 50% longer on Immediate sites than on competitors' sites
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NutracheckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2022Hubert Burda Media acquired UK nutrition platform Nutracheck, integrating it into Immediate Media Co. The acquisition aims to expand Burda's growth in the UK's food and digital health market. Nutracheck operates as part of Immediate's Food and Wellness Group.
• BurdaInternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurdaInternational operates in 11 countries, primarily across Europe and Asia (employing 2,400 people), with a multi-channel platform offering including media, e-commerce, and innovative services. Immediate is integrated into this international structure as the UK portfolio company.
• University of SussexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmediate partnered with psychologists at the University of Sussex to survey nearly 10,000 people on what truly brings joy for The Joy Test research project. Research reveals connection between leisure activities and emotional wellbeing.
• Good Food SME Awards PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGood Food announced winners of inaugural Good Food SME Awards celebrating small and medium-sized businesses making impact in food, drink and health industry. Category sponsors and partners support the awards program.
• Inclusive EmployersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerED&I partner organization supporting Immediate's commitment to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace. One of several partner organizations including Black Young Professionals, Intermedia UK, Menopause Friendly Workplace.
• Black Young Professionals (BYP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerED&I partner organization supporting Immediate's diversity and inclusion initiatives. BYP Network supports Black young professionals in the workplace.
• Menopause Friendly WorkplaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerED&I partner organization supporting menopause awareness and friendly workplace practices. Immediate has a dedicated Menopause Network Group.
• Creative Mentor NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerED&I partner organization supporting diversity in creative industries. Immediate committed to increasing representation and supporting underrepresented talent.
• Creative EqualsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerED&I partner organization focused on diversity and equality in creative industries. Supports Immediate's commitment to workplace diversity.
• Solidarity SportsminorOthersCharity partner supporting children recovering from complex trauma. Part of Immediate's community outreach and social impact initiatives.
• Barons Court ProjectminorOthersCommunity partner - the only day centre in Hammersmith and Fulham supporting the homeless and vulnerable. Part of Immediate's local community outreach.
• OnHandminorOthersVolunteering platform partner making it easy for Immediate employees to give back and support causes they care about in their local communities.
• OliominorOthersFood waste charity partner. Immediate donates all leftover food from offices to local food waste charity Olio as part of sustainability commitment.
• SkyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment brand partner in Radio Crimes campaign that won Commercial Partnership of the Year at PPA Awards 2026. Joint campaign with Netflix delivered strong results.
• NetflixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment brand partner in Radio Crimes campaign that won Commercial Partnership of the Year at PPA Awards 2026. Joint campaign with Sky delivered creative audience experience.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hubert Burda Media: Immediate's parent company and Germany's largest family-owned media conglomerate, operating 500+ brands. Directly comparable as a multi-brand European special-interest media owner and Immediate's ultimate shareholder and capital backer.
• DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust): UK-listed diversified media group spanning consumer (Mail, Metro, i) and B2B (Euromonitor, Trepp). Comparable in running a multi-brand UK consumer media portfolio with adjacent events and licensing.
• Dotdash Meredith: US-based digital-led publisher of enthusiast brands (Verywell, Investopedia, People, Better Homes & Gardens). Comparable as a portfolio operator of trusted vertical-specific content brands monetised through advertising and commerce — relevant benchmark for Immediate's content + commerce + data model.

Direct peers

• Reach plc: UK's largest newspaper and magazine publisher (Daily Mirror, Daily Express, OK!, Closer). Directly comparable as a UK multi-brand consumer publisher monetising across advertising, subscriptions and licensing with a similar London-headquartered operating model.
• Bauer Media Group: European magazine publisher and audio operator with significant UK presence (Heat, Grazia, Closer, Absolute Radio). Closely comparable multi-brand special-interest publisher monetising across print, digital, audio and live events.
• Haymarket Media Group: Private UK-based multi-brand consumer and B2B publisher. Comparable operating model as a privately-held, family-controlled special-interest publisher with diversified brand portfolio and events businesses.
• Future plc: UK-based multi-brand digital publisher (TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Marie Claire, Country Life). Comparable in operating a portfolio of special-interest consumer brands monetised through subscriptions, advertising, events and e-commerce; a key benchmark for UK consumer media M&A multiples.
• Condé Nast Britain: UK arm of Condé Nast (Vogue, GQ, Tatler, Wired). Comparable as a UK luxury and lifestyle magazine publisher with digital extensions, live events (e.g. Vogue Festival) and brand licensing — overlapping with Immediate's vertical-portfolio strategy.
• Hearst UK: UK arm of Hearst (Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, ELLE). Closely comparable UK consumer magazine publisher relying on a mix of licensed and owned lifestyle brands monetised through subscriptions and advertising.

Emerging players

• Dennis Publishing: UK-based independent publisher of special-interest titles (The Week, Coach, MoneyWeek). Comparable as a mid-sized UK consumer publisher monetising niche enthusiast verticals through subscriptions — though smaller and digital-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/radiotimesdigital
• Facebookfacebook.com/immediatemedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/immediate-media-co-
• Instagraminstagram.com/immediatemediaco
• TikToktiktok.com/@lifeatimmediate

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Immediate Media Co.