AudioGo Ltd., a U.K.-based media company, has bought BBC Audiobooks in a sale that includes BBC Audio's U.S. operation, BBC Audiobooks America. In the short term, it will be "business as usual," a spokesperson said, and the sale has not resulted in any layoffs or executive staff changes. BBC Audiobooks America's North Kingston, R.I. office is remaining, and editorial director Jeff Golick will continue to be based out of BBC Worldwide's office in Manhattan.
BBC Audiobooks America, which is now known as AudioGo, will continue to predominantly publish BBC-created content under the BBC Audio imprint and will continue to its library imprints including Sound Library. It currently has a library of over 3,000 titles. BBC has been looking for a buyer for its audiobook division since 2009. In the long term, the spokesperson said, the company is looking to grow. The spokesperson said that, given the media background of AudioGo, the sale has "opened up a whole new range of possibilities."
Through the deal BBC Worldwide sold an 85% stake in BBC Audiobooks. While the announcement of the sale hinted at expansion in the realm of digital audio--Michael Kuhn, chairman of AudioGo said of the acquisition that his company is "committed to building on the past achievements of BBC Audiobooks as it enters the digital age"--the spokesperson, who confirmed BBC Audiobooks America does sell digital downloads, declined to comment on how much of the division's revenue is generated from digital sales.
