• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

‘Sports Illustrated’ Will Continue to Publish

  • Minute Media, which owns ‘FanSided’ and ‘The Players’ Tribune,’ takes over the license on a 10-year deal.
  • The Arena Group, which instituted mass layoffs earlier this year, is now out.
Phil Masturzo 1 / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sports Illustrated isn’t dead yet. 

Authentic—the licensing giant that owns Sports Illustrated, as well as such other brands as Brooks Brothers and Shaquille O’Neal—struck a deal with Minute Media to publish the magazine and website. Financial terms were not made public when the new arrangement was announced Monday. 

“Given the incredibly fast and delicate nature of this deal, we will spend the next few weeks getting to know the SI leadership and do our best to establish a strategic plan that does right by the people and ensures sustained growth for the brand,” Asaf Peled, founder and CEO of Minute Media, wrote in an email to Minute Media staff obtained by Front Office Sports. “We will manage this transition with the utmost sensitivity.”

In public, he struck a similar tone. “Sports Illustrated is the gold standard for sports journalism and has been for nearly 70 years across both print and digital media,” Peled said in a statement. “At Minute Media, our focus will be to take that legacy into new, emerging channels enhancing visibility, commercial viability and sustainable impact, all while ensuring that the SI team is inspired to flourish in this new era of media.”

Minute Media is a digital media company founded in Israel in 2011, which owns properties such as FanSided and The Players’ Tribune. The agreement begins immediately and takes away Sports Illustrated’s operations from The Arena Group, which previously had the publishing license, and puts them into the hands of Minute Media. 

The initial deal is for 10 years with the option to extend it with two more 10-year deals, a source with knowledge of the agreement tells FOS. Authentic will take a stake in Minute Media as part of the deal. Minute Media, which was founded in 2011, generates more than $400 million in annual revenue and plans to both continue the magazine’s print edition and expand its publishing operations globally. 

“In Minute Media we have found a partner that will honor SI’s lauded legacy and exceed fan expectations for the future,” Daniel W. Dienst, an Authentic executive vice chairman, said in a statement. “As Minute Media shepherds the SI brand across a rapidly evolving media landscape, our priority at Authentic is—and has always been—to protect its journalistic integrity and longevity.”

An Arena spokesperson tells FOS that it had been notified of Authentic’s deal with Minute Media, but that Arena had “no further details at this point.”

Authentic acquired SI from Meredith Corp. in May 2019 for $110 million, months after Meredith purchased Time Inc., the original owner of the venerable magazine, which launched in 1954. Authentic soon entered a 10-year, $150 million deal with start-up Maven. (Maven’s name changed to The Arena Group in ’21.) The deal included an upfront payment of $45 million to Authentic. 

The first major move for the company now known as Arena was to lay off staff and cut the publishing schedule of the print magazine to monthly. (After decades as a weekly publication, SI had moved to twice a month in 2018.) There had been bumps in the years since Arena became SI’s publisher but nothing like what staffers have seen over the last few months. 

The high drama began after it was announced in August that 5-Hour Energy founder Manoj Bhargava purchased a majority stake in The Arena Group, with plans to merge it with his Bridge Media Networks. Bhargava acquired about a 65% stake in Arena and agreed to a five-year, $60 million advertising commitment to tout his 5-Hour Energy and other companies. 

Arena missed a $3.75 million payment to Arena at the end of December. In January, Authentic moved to terminate Arena’s SI publishing deal—and Arena instituted mass layoffs at SI

“We have said from the start that our top priorities are to keep Sports Illustrated alive, uphold the legacy of the institution and protect our union jobs,” Emma Baccellieri, staff writer for SI and vice chair for the SI Union, said in a statement to FOS. “We look forward to discussing a future with Minute Media that does that.”

Last week, FOS reported that Authentic took back control of the SI swimsuit edition from Arena even as Arena made moves to lay off swim edition staff.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Trump Push to End Quarterly Earnings Has Major Sports Ramifications

U.S. President Trump proposes moving to semi-annual reporting for public companies.
Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow Out for Months After Bengals’ Pricey Offseason

Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are the highest-paid WR duo in NFL history.

Tush Push Debate Heats Up in Eagles Win, Ex-NFL Rules Chief Sounds..

The Eagles are continuing to run the quarterback-sneak play.

Chiefs’ Fall to 0–2 Dims the Spotlight on NFL’s Top TV Draw

The NFL’s most-watched team sinks to a new low since Patrick Mahomes arrived.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.
Las Vegas Aces
September 15, 2025

WNBA Playoffs Face ESPN Fall Crunch For Final Time

The games will be spread across three networks next year.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.
September 15, 2025

Amazon Shatters Previous Ratings High for 1st NFL Game

“TNF” viewership surges 35% compared to the 2024 season average.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.
September 12, 2025

College Football Enters Week 3 Up 21% in TV Ratings

Total college football viewership across all networks is up big.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports camera station before the game between the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
September 11, 2025

Lachlan Murdoch on Fox’s Sports Strategy, FanDuel Plans

The executive calls a forthcoming streaming bundle with ESPN “essential” for fans.
September 5, 2025

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.