TMZ will have a new owner, as Fox Entertainment has reportedly acquired the Hollywood gossip website from WarnerMedia. According to the Wall Street Journal, the agreement between the two parties is estimated at less than $50 million, but official terms weren’t disclosed.
As part of the deal, Fox takes over all TMZ-branded linear, digital, and experiential assets, including the programs “TMZ,” “TMZ LIVE,” and “TMZ SPORTS.”
“The unique and powerful brand Harvey has created in TMZ has forever changed the entertainment industry, and we’re excited to welcome them to FOX,” Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Corporation, said.
“TMZ has been an impactful program for our FOX television stations and broadcast partners for many years, and I know Jack Abernethy and Charlie Collier will find creative ways to utilize and expand this content in effective and compelling ways for our audiences.”
The deal provides Fox with the opportunity to use the TMZ label across all their stations, ad-supported streaming service Tubi, and other Fox-owned platforms.
Despite this change in ownership, TMZ founder and managing editor Harvey Levin will stay on to supervise the day-to-day operations from its Playa Vista, CA offices. Levin will now report to Fox Entertainment’s President of Alternative Entertainment and Specials, Rob Wade.
“Harvey Levin created a groundbreaking destination for entertainment news, and for the past 15+ years, TMZ has celebrated great success,” Channing Dungey, Chairman, Warner Bros. Television Group, said.
“TMZ will now be more closely aligned with the distributor of the popular content they create, and WarnerMedia wishes Harvey and everyone on the team the best as they venture into a new partnership with the talented team at FOX.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
