BBC Buys Lonely Planet

BBC Worldwide has acquired Lonely Planet, the publisher of popular guides for travelers interested in "authentic" local experiences. Judy Slatyer, the company's CEO, will stay on with the rest of her Melbourne-based management team.

Since its founding in 1972, the company has gradually branched out into a variety of other media, including TV shows and a significant online presence. According to Etienne de Villiers, a non-executive chairman at BBC Worldwide, the acquisition will bring even more investment, with a special focus online, and create possibilities for sharing content with the BBC. Villiers commented: "The association will strengthen Lonely Planet's visibility and growth potential, particularly in the digital arena, as well as providing their users access to the wide range of BBC content which connects with their interests."

Overall, Lonely Planet currently publishes about 500 titles in a variety of languages, including specialist activity guides, shoestring guides and phrasebooks. Meanwhile, Lonely Planet Television's flagship television series, Lonely Planet Six Degrees, produced for Discovery Networks, is seen in over 100 countries around the world. In addition to a popular Web site, the brand also recently launched lonelyplanet.tv, a travel video file-sharing site with a social network component.

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