MAM
‘The Office’ breaks records for BBC Worldwide
LONDON: The Office, I’m Alan Partridge, Delia’s Vegetarian Collection, Life of Mammals, Fimbles,Tweenies were among BBC Worldwide’s top-sellers last Christmas.
Sales of BBC2’s sitcom The Office on DVD and VHS were phenomenal with a total of one million units being snapped up across the two formats since its release on 14 October – 630,000 on DVD and 370,000 on VHS, states a release.
The release also claims that several records were created. In addition to being the fastest selling non-film DVD, it is also now the first non-film DVD to pass the half million unit sales mark. The combined VHS and DVD sales make it is the best-selling TV title in the UK ever (CIN).
The release also adds that these statistics prove that it has beaten competition from its main rival and Channel 4 show Peter Kay – Phoenix Nights. Delia’s Vegetarian Collection was BBC Worldwide’s top selling book in October to December – 200,000 copies sold. This is considered excellent for a standalone cookery book not tied into a television series. Another cookery title, Rick Stein’s Food Heroes was in the top five with 87,000 copies.
Over 5.3 million videos, books and audio products were purchased in the October to December shopping period linked to major brands and authors including David Attenborough, History of Britain, Harry Potter.
Revenue from sales of the adult books, videos and audio products in just three months in the run up to Christmas were up by a year on year rise of 10 per cent.
Audio tapes and CDs also fared well. Eight out of the ten top-selling titles in the UK were from BBC Worldwide (Booktrack) in December. I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue Anniversary Special was in the number one slot followed by Michael Palin’s Sahara . Also in the top ten were the complete and unabridged readings by Stephen Fry of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban as well as the radio comedy classic Round the Horne No.14.
More than half a million Tweenies and Fimbles titles were bought. The latest releases – Get the Fimbling Feeling and Let’s Find the Fimbles totalled 291,000 sales; while 205,000 Tweenies Live! The Christmas Present and Tweenies: Everybody Panto were bought for youngsters. Fimbles and Tweenies were thus BBC Worldwide’s most successful pre-school properties.
BBC Worldwide’s live events business had continuing success. The Tweenies Live! The Christmas Present show returned to entertain over 100,000 fans in Cardiff, Wembley and Manchester. And the twelve date Fame Academy’ National UK Arena Tour sold more than 50,000 tickets during the Christmas period, with additional shows due to be added shortly
Brands
Sun Pharma to acquire Organon in $11.75 billion deal at $14 per share
Acquisition to create $12.4 billion pharma giant with global scale and biosimilars push
MUMBAI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Organon & Co. in an all-cash deal valued at $11.75 billion, marking one of the largest cross-border pharma acquisitions by an Indian firm.
Under the terms of the agreement, Organon shareholders will receive $14.00 per share in cash, with Sun Pharma set to acquire 100 per cent of the company’s outstanding shares. The transaction, approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.
The deal significantly expands Sun Pharma’s global footprint and strengthens its position across women’s health, biosimilars, and branded generics. The combined entity is projected to generate revenues of around $12.4 billion, placing it among the top 25 pharmaceutical companies globally.
Organon, which was spun off from Merck in 2021, brings a portfolio of over 70 products spanning women’s health and general medicines, with operations across more than 140 countries. Its established presence in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China complements Sun Pharma’s existing strengths and growth ambitions.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited executive chairman Dilip Shanghvi said, “This transaction represents a significant opportunity for Sun Pharma to build on its vision of reaching people and touching lives. Organon’s portfolio, capabilities and global reach are highly complementary to our own.”
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited managing director Kirti Ganorkar added, “This transaction is a logical next step in strengthening Sun Pharma’s global business. Together, we will become a partner of choice for acquiring and launching new products.”
From Organon’s side, Organon & Co. executive chair Carrie Cox noted, “This all-cash transaction offers compelling and immediate value to Organon stockholders, while positioning the business for continued growth under Sun Pharma.”
Strategically, the acquisition gives Sun Pharma entry into the global biosimilars space as a top 10 player and strengthens its innovative medicines portfolio, which is expected to contribute around 27 per cent of combined revenues. The deal is also expected to nearly double EBITDA and cash flow, supporting long-term deleveraging and investment capacity.
Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal accruals and committed financing from global banks, while maintaining focus on disciplined integration and operational continuity post-merger.
If completed as planned, the deal signals a clear shift in India’s pharmaceutical ambitions, from scale at home to leadership on the global stage, with Sun Pharma positioning itself as a more diversified and innovation-led healthcare powerhouse.
