Time Out Still Seeking Cash For Global Online Ambitions

imageimageListings group Time Out wants to roll out more mags around the world – but first plans to use new websites as a beachhead. Founder Tony Elliott tells Times Online: “We want to develop in Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester; in Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco. And we’d certainly not look to launch magazines in places like Paris or Los Angeles without a developed website in place first.”

Either way, it can’t be done without Elliott first finding new investment, something Elliott’s been trying to do for the last eight months: “The option of selling control is a possibility… It depends on the circumstances. There could be a win-win, where I get a significant long-term stake. But I don’t know if I want headlines saying Time Out is for sale.” TimeOut already has 30 international editions but Elliot only owns the London title outright and has shares in the New York and Chicago titles – the rest are licensed to local publishers, meaning he’s strapped for cash when it comes to expansion. He’s appointed Evercore to “explore all options”.

Elliot has been quietly working on Time Out’s UK expansion in the past few years — though a £1 million Manchester magazine launch (via How Do) was shelved, there already is a Manchester site and an Edinburgh site

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