BBC Books Restructure

According to a story at Publishing News, "Following several months' review of its activities and performance, BBC Books has decided to refocus its publishing and reduce its list by around a third to 55-60 titles a year, many of those TV tie-ins or personality-led books. 'WeÆre slimming down the business and re-engineering the process,' Chris Weller, MD of Consumer Publishing, told PN, after a day of meetings in which the books team were told that there would be 'quite significant' job losses. The announcement coincides with the start of a wider review of all the BBCÆs commercial activities which will report in November. 'They could decide to sell us off, or keep us or enhance us,' Weller continued. 'ItÆs all in the lap of the gods.'" Now, we bring this to you not to say that the Doctor Who line is in any danger; we merely bring you what's been reported in a reputable industry source. We hope to get a statement from the folks involved in the Doctor Who novels very shortly. (Thanks to Gordon Barr)