Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL), the parent company of the Times Group, has issued a public notice clarifying that four regional and local publications are no longer under its control or operation, according to e4m.com. The move is aimed at eliminating any confusion around brand ownership and editorial association.
The four publications named in the notice are Pune Times Mirror, Ei Samay (Bengali daily), NavGujarat Samay (Gujarati daily), and Ahmedabad Mirror. BCCL stated that these publications have transitioned to fully independent operations following divestments or licensing arrangements.
The company emphasized that it holds no financial, structural, or legal responsibility for the business practices or editorial content of these entities. The clarification, as reported by e4m.com, is intended to clearly distinguish these brands from the Times Group’s portfolio.
Industry observers note that this development serves as a key signal for advertisers and media agencies. With these publications operating independently, decisions related to media buying, advertising placements, and brand partnerships will now depend solely on each publication’s individual credibility and editorial standards.
Ei Samay, a Bengali daily launched by BCCL in Kolkata in 2012, was sold in 2024 to a consortium including Sanjay Basu and Anurag Choudhary, e4m reported.
NavGujarat Samay, launched in Ahmedabad in 2014 as part of the Times Group’s regional push, was later linked to Shayona Times Pvt Ltd and is now marked as divested.
In the Mirror segment, Metropolitan Media Company Ltd acquired Pune, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai Mirror from BCCL in 2020; Pune Mirror was shut during the pandemic and later acquired by Pankaj Sharma in 2021, while Ahmedabad Mirror is now associated with Shayona Times Pvt Ltd and classified as licensed.
