No need to mourn Sports Illustrated any longer — it’s back under new management. Minute Media, the parent company of other sports media entities like The Player’s Tribune and The Big Lead, reached a deal with SI parent company Authentic Brands Group to resume operations for the legendary sports media entity.
In an article published in The New York Times, Minute Media’s deal with ABG will be for 10 years. It also includes an option to extend for up to 30 years total. This deal will also include the SI Swimsuit Edition, something that was previously believed to be separated from the greater Sports Illustrated brand.
In January, Sports Illustrated’s parent company Authentic Brands Group pulled the SI license from The Arena Group. They were the publishing company that was in charge of SI’s daily operations. In response, Arena laid off SI’s entire staff, capping off SI’s tumultuous era under its former publisher, an era that included potential AI writers, union-busting, and worrying words from its CEO. For now, it seems like the sun has come out — and SI’s Writer’s Union is excited to get started.
“With today’s news that Minute Media will be taking over as publisher of Sports Illustrated, SI’s unionized journalists say they welcome the change and look forward to remaining part of the storied brand’s future,” the SI Union said in a statement posted to its X account.
In December 2023, Sports Illustrated CEO Ross Levinsohn was fired by The Arena Group’s board. The company said the move was to “improve the operational efficiency and revenue of the company.”
Operations President and COO Andrew Kraft, media president Rob Barrett and corporate counsel Julie Fenster were also terminated.
Sports Illustrated has been an influential leader in sports journalism for 70 years. It was developed in 1954 by Time magazine creator Henry Luce.
