• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 3, 2025
exclusive
Media

Sports Illustrated Poised To Build Paywall For Readers

  • Starting Feb. 2, SI.com is expected to put a metered paywall in front of much of its premium content.
  • Many U.S. publishers are tightening paywalls and reducing number of free articles.
Gary Cosby Jr. via Imagn Content Services

Sports Illustrated plans to institute a paywall for SI.com, sources told Front Office Sports.

Starting Feb. 2, the venerable Maven-owned sports publication is expected to set up a metered paywall around much of its “premium content,” said sources.

Exclusive news, behind-the-scenes interviews and special photography are all on the table. An SI representative declined to comment.

Metered paywalls typically allow readers access to a certain number of articles before they have to subscribe.

SI has not finalized that number of free articles or a possible subscription price, said sources. But one source said SI hopes to create a model where readers could pay up to $5.99 a month for premium content. 

The Athletic, SI’s subscription-based competitor, currently charges $4.99 a month for an annual subscription (with seven days free), or $7.99 per month.

SI currently charges $20 for a one-year, 16-issue subscription to its flagship print magazine, or $30 for a two-year, 32-issue subscription.

SI is not alone. Many U.S. publishers have been tightening up their paywalls. Just a few years ago, readers gained access to 10 or more free stories; now most offer five or fewer free articles per month.

The projected starting date would help SI build off fan excitement for Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 between Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Crest Surf Clubs
exclusive

New York Private Surf Club Wants to Raise $45M, Charge $100K

The average membership fee for Crest is $20,000 a year.
exclusive

ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap Strives to Discover Joey Chestnut’s Secret

Schaap calls his second Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4.
exclusive

WNBA Players Reject League’s First CBA Offer

Players felt the initial proposal wasn’t “entirely responsive” to their request.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.