The Maven's deal to acquire SI's print and digital publishing rights from the Authentic Brands Group represents another example of the publicly traded startup "cobbling together a patchwork of independent publishing sites," according to Meg James of the L.A. TIMES. Last week, Maven acquired The Street for $16.5M, and its other titles "include History, Maxim, Yoga Journal and Ski Magazine." The Maven-Authentic Brands deal "comes just three weeks" after Meredith agreed to manage SI assets for up to two years. But Authentic Brands’ partnership with Maven "brought Meredith’s tenure to an abrupt end." The "revolving door at the once premier sports outlet illustrates the headwinds facing magazines that have long relied on advertising and print subscriptions" (L.A. TIMES, 6/18).
REMAINS TO BE SEEN: In DC, Ben Strauss notes for SI, there is "opportunity in the deal with The Maven in that its editorial operations will not be overseen by a company that had spent two years trying to sell it." The Maven "carries its own risks, though, as its strategic plans remain opaque and it has not published a title like SI in its brief existence" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/18). WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY's Kali Hays noted The Maven will be handling all of SI platforms, "in print and digital and including the well-known Swimsuit Issue, and any future offshoots, like bookazines and special interest publications, video channels and all future licensing deals" (WWD.com, 6/17).
