BCCL ‘disowns’ 4 publications publicly

Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL) on Wednesday issued a public clarification distancing itself from Pune Times Mirror, Ei Samay, NavGujarat Samay and Ahmedabad Mirror, saying the publications are no longer controlled, published or operated by BCCL, MMCL or any of their affiliated entities.

In a public notice addressed to readers, advertisers, corporates, agencies and other stakeholders, BCCL said Pune Times Mirror, Ei Samay and NavGujarat Samay have been divested, while Ahmedabad Mirror has been licensed. The notice stated that these publications function independently and that BCCL and The Times of India do not exercise editorial, managerial or operational control over them.

The notice further said BCCL and its group companies bear no responsibility or liability for the editorial content, business practices, representations, solicitations or conduct of these publications, or of any persons claiming to represent them. It also said any engagement, transaction or association with these titles would be at the discretion and risk of the concerned parties, without recourse to BCCL, MMCL or their affiliates.

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The timing of the notice has drawn attention because some of these publications had been divested or licensed earlier. Industry observers speculated that recent “aggressive” or adverse coverage by some of these titles, particularly Pune Times Mirror and Ahmedabad Mirror, may have prompted the clarification.

When asked about the objective behind the notice, a senior BCCL official said the move was aimed at removing confusion around brand attribution and editorial association.

“These publications, after divestment and licensing, follow a different editorial policy, which often led people to assume they were still part of the TOI Group. Through this announcement, we are making it clear that our editorial policy is separate. Attribution was the issue,” the official told e4m, requesting anonymity.

What it means for advertisers

The move is significant because several of these titles have historically been associated with the Times Group ecosystem.

From an advertising standpoint, the clarification is also relevant. Print may no longer command the same growth momentum as digital, but city and language publications continue to hold value for local advertisers, real estate players, education institutes, retail chains, political campaigns, public notices, government communication and regional brands.

Titles such as Pune Times Mirror, Ahmedabad Mirror, Ei Samay and NavGujarat Samay operate in markets where local trust, city-level influence and language affinity still matter to advertisers. However, in print, brand lineage and publisher credibility often influence media buying decisions. Agencies and advertisers may assume that publications historically associated with a large media house carry the same editorial standards, distribution strength or commercial backing.

The clarification, ad executives said, appears aimed at drawing a formal line between the Times Group’s continuing brands and publications that may still be perceived by readers, advertisers or market participants as linked to the group.

“For advertisers and agencies, the notice is particularly relevant because brand association, editorial adjacency and publisher credibility remain important parts of media planning. The Times Group has made it clear that any commercial or editorial engagement with the named publications should not be presumed to carry BCCL backing or responsibility,” a senior advertising leader said.

The clarification also comes at a time when the economics of print are under pressure. As advertisers shift larger budgets to digital platforms, several newspapers are believed to have reduced circulation by 15–20% and shut loss-making editions to protect margins, industry insiders said.

Although print ad revenue has seen a recent uptick, executives said the recovery is being driven largely by lower ad rates rather than a broad-based increase in brand marketing spends. Print still remains influential in city, language and high-trust markets, but its share of India’s advertising pie has narrowed to around 20%, compared with 44% for digital and 32% for television.

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Legacy links, new ownership

Ei Samay, the Bengali daily, was launched by BCCL in Kolkata in 2012. In 2024, the Times Group sold the publication to a consortium involving advocate Sanjay Basu and Anurag Choudhary. The deal size was not publicly disclosed.

NavGujarat Samay was launched by the Times Group in Ahmedabad in January 2014 as part of its Indian-language expansion strategy. Publicly available records and reports later linked the publication to Shayona Times Pvt Ltd, involving Shayona Group and the Times Group. The latest notice classifies NavGujarat Samay as divested.

In the Mirror portfolio, Metropolitan Media Company Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BCCL, had acquired Pune Mirror, Ahmedabad Mirror and Mumbai Mirror from its parent BCCL on March 31, 2020, according to a CRISIL rating note. Pune Mirror was subsequently shut as a print publication during the pandemic period and later acquired by Pankaj Sharma, President of The Lexicon Group, in February 2021. Ahmedabad Mirror’s current website describes it as a city newspaper from Shayona Times Pvt Ltd. BCCL’s latest notice classifies Ahmedabad Mirror as licensed.

The announcement underlines a broader issue in Indian media: legacy brand recall can outlive ownership, licensing and operational control. In markets where publications carry familiar mastheads or historical associations, advertisers and stakeholders may continue to assume group-level linkage unless ownership and responsibility are explicitly clarified.

With this notice, BCCL appears to be closing that ambiguity. The message is clear: these titles may have historical links with the Times ecosystem, but their editorial direction, operations and business conduct now sit outside BCCL’s control.