{{Short description|British newspaper company}} {{Infobox company | name = Telegraph Media Group Limited | logo = Telegraph Media Group logo.jpg | image = | image_caption = | type = Subsidiary | trade_name = TMG | foundation = {{start date and age|1948}} | location = London, England, UK | industry = Mass media | products = Newspapers and websites | assets = £509 million ({{small|2024}}) | revenue = £196 million ({{small|2024}}) | num_employees = | subsid = {{Plain list | * The Daily Telegraph * The Sunday Telegraph }} | homepage = {{url|https://corporate.telegraph.co.uk}} | operating_income = £23.8 million ({{small|2024}}) | parent = Press Holdings }} '''Telegraph Media Group Limited''' ('''TMG'''; previously the '''Telegraph Group''') is a multimedia news company that publishes daily and weekly publications in printed and electronic formats and owns ''The Daily Telegraph'', ''The Sunday Telegraph'' and ''The Chelsea Magazine Company''. These publications cover politics, obituaries, sports, finance, lifestyle, travel, health, culture, technology, fashion, and automobiles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Telegraph Media Group Ltd |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/386457Q:LN?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref> Beginning in 2023, the group had been seeking new ownership, with Axel Springer SE announcing they had agreed to acquire the group, in March 2026.
The group and its publications have historically aligned with the Conservative Party and TMG are considered to be right-leaning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berthelot |first=Benoit |last2=Henderson |first2=Rose |date=2025-11-04 |title=Daily Mail Owner's Telegraph Bid Shows Altered UK Media Landscape |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-24/daily-mail-owner-s-telegraph-bid-shows-altered-media-landscape?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2026-03-08 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> The audience of The Telegraph according to YouGov skews male and to older age groups, is affluent and its readers are more likely to vote for the Conservative Party, in comparison to averages across other UK newspaper brands.<ref name=":3" />
== History == The Berry family were involved in the ownership of the groups companies since 1928. When the group ran into difficulties in 1985, Lord Hartwell sold the business to Conrad Black. It was widely reported that the Berry family attempted to regain control of the group in 2004, via a consortium that included Daily Mail, General Trust and private equity firm Cinven, however later reports suggested that the family were not involved in the unsuccessful bid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berry Family bids for Telegraph with DMGT and Cinven |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/berry-family-bids-telegraph-dmgt-cinven/202635?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |date=2004-02-16 |title=Telegraph's ex-owners to join Mail bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/16/dmgt.thedailytelegraph |access-date=2026-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |date=2004-03-18 |title=Former Telegraph owners not part of Mail bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/mar/18/dmgt.pressandpublishing |access-date=2026-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
David and Frederick Barclay acquired the group on 30 July 2004 from Hollinger Inc. of Toronto, Canada, the newspaper group controlled by Conrad Black, after months of bidding and lawsuits.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |date=2004-07-30 |title=Barclays take over at Telegraph |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jul/30/pressandpublishing.thedailytelegraph |access-date=2026-03-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The ownership structure of the group under the control of the Barclay brothers was complex, with them being owned by a company based in Jersey, which was owned by Bermuda-based B.UK, a subsidiary of Penultimate Investments Holdings, based in the British Virgin Islands.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Paul |date=2023-08-17 |title=The Telegraph: A real-life family melodrama that makes Succession look tame |url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/article/1833616?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=www.managementtoday.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, TMG's operating profit was £51 million. According to unaudited accounts, profits before tax were £47 million, and turnover for the 53 weeks up to 3 January 2016 was £319 million. These figures indicated an increase from 2014 levels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Greenslade|first1=Roy|title=Telegraph Media Group made £51m operating profit in 2015|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/feb/17/telegraph-media-group-made-51m-operating-profit-in-2015|access-date=4 May 2016|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=17 February 2016}}</ref>
Nick Hugh joined TMG as Chief Executive Officer in 2016, from Yahoo. The group pursued a "reader first" strategy, seeking to increase subscriptions and maintain a focus on editorial aspects, whilst outsourcing production and advertising. By 2022, the groups revenue was £254 million, with annual profits of £40 million.<ref name=":2" />
In 2023, TMG acquired The Chelsea Magazine Company, publisher of magazines including The English Home,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-14 |title=New editor announced for The English Home |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/new-editor-announced-for-the-english-home-25368 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=InPublishing |language=en}}</ref> Artists and Illustrators<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=The Chelsea Magazine Company announces the appointment of a new team for its art title |url=https://ppa.co.uk/the-chelsea-magazine-company-announces-the-appointment-of-a-new-team-for-its-art-title |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=PPA (Professional Publishers Association)}}</ref> and Classic Boat.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chelseamagazines.com/telegraph-media-group-acquires-the-chelsea-magazine-company-ltd/ | title=Telegraph Media Group acquires the Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd | date=28 March 2023 }}</ref> In the same year, the company reached a milestone having achieved over 1 million subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://telegraphmediagroup.com/about-us/#:~:text=The%20Daily%20Telegraph%20and%20Courier,1942 |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=Telegraph Media Group |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=2023-07-24 |title=Telegraph Media Group says it will soon reach 1m paid subscriptions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jul/25/telegraph-media-group-paying-subscribers-chelsea-magazine-company |access-date=2026-03-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In June 2023, the group was put up for sale after B.UK entered receivership. The Barclay family had amassed debts of £1 billion and Lloyds Banking Group effectively repossessed TMG.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Majid |first=Aisha |date=2023-07-17 |title=Who reads The Telegraph? |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/who-reads-the-telegraph-audience-circulation-breakdown/ |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> Howard and Aidan Barclay were removed as directors.<ref name="Receivership BBC">{{cite news |title=Telegraph Media Group set to be put up for sale |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65835312 |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=BBC News |date=7 June 2023}}</ref> The debt owed to Lloyds Banking Group was subsequently settled.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandle |first=Paul |last2=Young |first2=Sarah |date=2023-12-05 |title=The Barclays regain UK's Telegraph newspaper after Abu Dhabi helps repay |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-lloyds-bank-paid-telegraph-debt-by-barclay-family-sky-news-2023-12-04/#:~:text=The%20Barclays%20regain%20UK's%20Telegraph%20newspaper%20after,pending%20review%20of%20impact%20on%20press%20freedom. |access-date=2026-03-10 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The group made a loss of £244 million in 2023, despite an otherwise good financial performance, due to loans paid to the Barclay family.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Croft |first=Jane |date=2024-06-19 |title=Telegraph falls to loss of £240m as a result of loans to Barclay family ‘unlikely to be repaid’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jun/19/telegraph-loss-loans-barclay-family |access-date=2026-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> By year ending 2024, revenue was £196 million, with a profit of £23.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegraph Media Group Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00451593/filing-history?page=2 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=Companies House |language=en}}</ref>
Investment firm RedBird Capital Partners announced plans to purchase the publisher for £500 million in May 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2025-05-23 |title=RedBird Capital Swoops on Telegraph Media Group in $674 Million deal |url=https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/redbird-capital-telegraph-media-group-674-million-deal-1236407844/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> but the deal collapsed in November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=Daily Telegraph: RedBird Capital pulls out of deal to buy newspaper |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c993drmj1dyo |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Senior editorial staff at The Telegraph had voiced concerns about the acquisition, as had the UK government in terms of foreign state ownership of media in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Hannah |date=2025-11-19 |title=RedBird Capital Partners abandons Telegraph bid |url=https://www.printweek.com/content/news/redbird-capital-partners-abandons-telegraph-bid |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Printweek |language=en}}</ref>
Daily Mail and General Trust agreed to buy TMG for £500 million in November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-22 |title=Daily Mail owner agrees to buy Daily Telegraph for £500m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2eg1w0n81o |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The Competition and Markets Authority subsequently launched an inquiry into the acquisition, due to competition and public interest concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daily Mail and General Trust plc / Telegraph Media Group merger inquiry |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/daily-mail-and-general-trust-plc-slash-telegraph-media-group-merger-inquiry |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Michael |date=2026-02-12 |title=Lisa Nandy refers Telegraph sale to watchdogs over rightwing media plurality concerns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/12/lisa-nandy-refers-telegraph-sale-to-watchdogs-over-rightwing-media-plurality-concerns-daily-mail |access-date=2026-03-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Shortly after the probe was initiated, in March 2026, it was announced that Axel Springer had agreed to purchase TMG, increasing the amount offered by Daily Mail and General Trust by £75 million, to £575 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masud |first=Faarea |date=2026-03-06 |title=Axel Springer agrees to buy Telegraph Media Group in £575m deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv916d999no |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Axel Springer had previously shown interest in purchasing the group in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Daniel |last2=Massoudi |first2=Arash |date=2026-03-06 |title=Axel Springer buys Telegraph in £575mn deal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e5cb6481-3dd7-4907-b3d4-919227423678 |access-date=2026-03-09 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|https://corporate.telegraph.co.uk}}
{{Press Holdings}} {{Authority control}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
Telegraph Media Group Category:Publishing companies established in 1948 Category:1948 establishments in the United Kingdom