Sports Illustrated finds new publisher and averts shutdown

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The iconic sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, has found a new lease on life. The brand, which was on the brink of shutdown after laying off much of its editorial staff, will now continue to publish under a new operator. This development has brought a wave of relief among sports enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.

 

The company that owns the brand, Authentic Brands Group, reached an agreement with a new publisher, Minute Media, for its print and digital products. This agreement came into effect on Monday, following a licensing deal between the two entities. The financial terms of this arrangement, however, have not been made public.

 

This transition comes after Authentic Brands Group revoked The Arena Group’s publishing license due to a missed quarterly payment. The negotiations for the new arrangement involved Authentic, Minute Media, and other publishing entities over the past two months. As part of the deal, Authentic will acquire an equity stake in Minute Media.

 

The future of Sports Illustrated under Minute Media remains to be seen. Minute Media, known for its sports sites The Players’ Tribune and FanSided, plans to take the legacy of Sports Illustrated into new, emerging channels. This move aims to enhance visibility, commercial viability, and sustainable impact.

 

As we celebrate this new chapter in the history of Sports Illustrated, one can’t help but wonder: How will this change impact the magazine’s content and its loyal readership? Will the shift to new, emerging channels alter the essence of Sports Illustrated that readers have come to love? Share your thoughts below.

 

 

Read more:

• https://apnews.com/article/sports-illustrated-d3e1488aec81638a77f9b907b014b271
• https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/39760736/sports-illustrated-continue-operations-new-publisher
• https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/03/18/sports-illustrated-will-continue-operations-after-owner-reaches-deal-with-new-publisher

 

 

Image: Sharaf Maksumov | Dreamstime.com