A web-fed rotary printing unit having a plurality of printing mechanisms is provided. Each printing mechanism includes a form cylinder (1, 5, 16-18, 27-30), a transfer cylinder (2, 6, 3, 7, 12-15, 22-25) and an impression cylinder (3, 7, 11, 26). The component costs associated with the drive motors can be reduced by providing a drive motor (4, 8, 9, 21, 41, 42, 55) that has a drive connection to the other cylinders via the impression cylinder.