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The BBC has been looking for a joint venture partner over the last year in an attempt to expand its publishing operations.

The division, part of the BBC's commercial arm BBC Worldwide, was in talks with the National Magazine Company about the possibility of expanding BBC Magazines' brands into the US. However, these broke down in May over how much control the BBC would have over its titles.

It is understood to be keen to retain control of its core brands such as Radio Times, despite speculation that the magazine could be in trouble after its latest set of ABCs showed the title was down 3.8% period on period to 1,155,064.

A BBC spokesman said: "We would be interested in a joint venture with another company which shared the same commitment to quality and growth that we do. We would also be interested in acquisitions, but BBC Magazines is not up for sale.

"We have been talking to companies over the last year and we will continue to talk to people."

The spokesman refused to be drawn on whom the BBC had held talks with.

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