The World: Western magazines tap huge Indian potential.(BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Magazines )

Liberalisation in the Indian magazine market has opened the door to foreign companies such as the BBC.

Less than a year after entering the Indian market following the liberalisation rules that govern foreign ownership of media, BBC Magazines - the UK's third-biggest consumer magazines publisher - is hatching plans to launch a further ten titles as part of a sustained expansion strategy.

The magazine arm of the BBC, which sells 100 million magazines in the UK every year and owns eight market-leaders, entered an equal partnership with the Times of India Group last December to form Worldwide Media.

Under the deal, Worldwide Media took over the publishing of 29 of the Times of India Group's titles, including the market-leading women's magazine Femina and the Bollywood film title Filmfare, and will launch selected BBC titles in the future. The first BBC title to hit stands in India was the motoring title Top Gear, which was launched in 33 cities.

While it is still early days for the venture, the BBC Magazines managing director, Peter Phippen, claims that after only two issues Top Gear has become India's best-selling car title and has display advertising sales to match.

In the absence of ABC circulation figures, this claim is based on market intelligence. But whether or not it has taken the top sales slot, its rivals Autocar, BS Motoring, Overdrive and the two new market entrants Car India and Bike India are understood to be troubled by Top Gear's positive reception.

One media buyer says: 'For some time, the motoring magazine sector in India has been ripe for the launch of a title with the type of editorial environment that Top Gear can provide.'