Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. said Monday that it sold its SkyMall in-flight retail catalog business for $52 million to a private equity group led by New York-based Spire Capital Partners.

“Gemstar-TV Guide is focused on building upon the company’s core assets including the TV Guide brand, our guidance technology and our leading entertainment and editorial data and content,” said Rich Battista, CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide, in a statement. “SkyMall is not core to the company’s plans going forward.”

The L.A.-based media and technology company said it will record the proceeds less $9 million for working capital. Also, Gemstar said that it assumed about $4 million of liabilities and retained about $12 million in cash from Skymall. The transaction closed on Dec. 1.

Gemstar acquired the SkyMall business in 2001.