Focus Magazine
BBC Science Focus Magazine is a monthly popular science publication by Our Media Ltd, delivering accessible science journalism across print, digital, podcast, and newsletter channels to general consumers interested in science, nature, and technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Focus Magazine does
BBC Science Focus Magazine is a monthly popular science publication published by Our Media Ltd, a UK private limited company headquartered in Bristol with 51-100 employees. The publication delivers accessible science journalism to a general consumer audience, covering space, nature, health, technology, the environment, and everyday science through news articles, Q&A features, and long-form pieces. Its core product is the monthly print magazine, distributed via subscription and newsstand, with a digital-first distribution layer anchored on sciencefocus.com.
The product surface extends well beyond the magazine: the Instant Genius Podcast delivers bite-sized masterclass audio with world-leading experts; an email newsletter provides curated science updates; and the publication runs or co-promotes two annual photography competitions — the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (60th edition in 2024, in partnership with the Natural History Museum London) and the Underwater Photographer of the Year (13 categories, running since 1965). Distribution spans global digital channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, RSS, podcast directories) and physical print retail and subscription delivery. The BBC brand association is the critical underlying asset, providing credibility and reach that supports a horizontal consumer-segment positioning.
The business model is multi-revenue: print magazine subscriptions and newsstand sales, digital advertising and sponsored content/advertorial features (e.g., branded 'advertisement feature' units on the homepage), newsletter sponsorship, and direct e-commerce subscription sales via the Our Media Shop. There is no disclosed external funding, no parent company other than Our Media Ltd, and no public listing. The competitive set spans other UK consumer science titles (e.g., New Scientist) and global science publishers; differentiation rests on the BBC licence, the breadth of editorial verticals, and the photography-competition ecosystem that creates annual audience tentpoles.
Focus Magazine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Focus Magazine
- Legal name
- Our Media Ltd.
- Website
- https://sciencefocus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- BBC Science Focus Magazine is a monthly popular science publication by Our Media Ltd, delivering accessible science journalism across print, digital, podcast, and newsletter channels to general consumers interested in science, nature, and technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Focus Magazine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Science Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)
Keywords
Where Focus Magazine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Focus Magazine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Focus Magazine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Focus Magazine (BBC Science Focus Magazine) is a monthly popular science publication produced by Our Media Ltd. that delivers news, features, Q&A explainers, and photography across topics including space, nature, health, technology, the environment, and everyday science. The brand distributes content through a monthly print magazine, a digital website (sciencefocus.com), the Instant Genius podcast, email newsletters, and curated science photo galleries. It also develops editorial coverage of major photography competitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Underwater Photographer of the Year in partnership with the Natural History Museum.
Product overview
BBC Science Focus Magazine is a science publication by Our Media Ltd offering content across multiple platforms including a monthly print/digital magazine, podcast (Instant Genius), newsletters, and photo galleries. The core magazine covers space, nature, health, technology, planet Earth, and everyday science through news articles, Q&A features, and in-depth articles. Associated products include the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Underwater Photographer of the Year annual competitions run in partnership with the Natural History Museum. The Instant Genius Podcast provides audio content as a complementary format to the written magazine content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Instant Genius Podcast: A bite-sized masterclass podcast in association with BBC Science Focus, featuring world-leading experts discussing the latest ideas and research in science and tech.
Products and services
- BBC Science Focus Magazine Monthly print and digital magazine covering space, nature, health, technology, environment, and everyday science through news articles, Q&A sections, and in-depth features, targeted at general readers with an interest in science.
- Instant Genius Podcast Bite-sized masterclass audio podcast featuring world-leading experts discussing the latest ideas and research in science and technology, available as a complement to the magazine for science-curious listeners.
- Science Focus Newsletter Email newsletter delivering curated science news, breakthrough discoveries, and featured articles on a regular cadence to subscribers.
Companies that use Focus Magazine
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Focus Magazine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Focus Magazine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Focus Magazine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Discover Magazine: US popular science magazine covering science news, mind, technology, and health for general readers. Comparable monthly consumer magazine format and editorial scope.
- Scientific American: Long-running US popular science magazine (since 1845) covering science news, features, and expert commentary. Comparable subscription/editorial model and consumer audience.
- New Scientist: UK-based weekly popular science magazine covering news, features, and discoveries for a general audience. Closest direct competitor to BBC Science Focus in topic mix, geography, and consumer subscription model.
- Popular Science: US-based popular science magazine and website covering technology, DIY, innovation, and scientific discovery for a general consumer audience. Directly comparable format and audience to BBC Science Focus.
- Live Science: Digital popular science site covering news, features, and reference content in space, health, nature, and technology. Directly comparable topic mix and general-consumer audience.
Broad incumbents
- BBC Sky at Night Magazine: Another BBC-licensed monthly consumer science magazine (also via Our Media) focused on astronomy and space. Sibling brand with overlapping audience and distribution economics.
- National Geographic: Global science, nature, and culture magazine with significant photography-driven editorial and events portfolio (including wildlife photography competitions). Adjacent scope and broader scale; comparable audience and event/competition model.
- Nature (Springer Nature): Premier scientific journal publisher with broad consumer and academic reach in science news and commentary. Significantly broader scope and academic skew, but overlapping audience interest in science coverage.
Emerging players
- IFLScience: Digital-first popular science media brand covering viral science news and explainers for a general audience via website and social. Comparable audience but digital-only with lighter editorial depth.
- Quanta Magazine: Editorially independent, free digital publication covering fundamental research in math, physics, biology, and computer science. Comparable general-audience science journalism but digital-only and nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Focus Magazine social profiles
Digital presenceFocus Magazine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Focus Magazine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Focus Magazine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Focus Magazine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Focus Magazine
What does Focus Magazine do?
Focus Magazine (BBC Science Focus Magazine) is a monthly popular science publication produced by Our Media Ltd. that delivers news, features, Q&A explainers, and photography across topics including space, nature, health, technology, the environment, and everyday science. The brand distributes content through a monthly print magazine, a digital website (sciencefocus.com), the Instant Genius podcast, email newsletters, and curated science photo galleries. It also develops editorial coverage of major photography competitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Underwater Photographer of the Year in partnership with the Natural History Museum.
Is Focus Magazine a public or private company?
Focus Magazine is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Focus Magazine founded?
Focus Magazine was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Focus Magazine based?
Focus Magazine is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Focus Magazine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Discover Magazine, Scientific American, New Scientist, Popular Science and Live Science. Broad incumbents are BBC Sky at Night Magazine, National Geographic and Nature (Springer Nature). Emerging players are IFLScience and Quanta Magazine.
Does Focus Magazine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Focus Magazine.
What industry is Focus Magazine in?
Focus Magazine's product category is Consumer Science Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAL, Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.