Minute Media, a leading global technology and sports content company, and Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand platform and owner of Sports Illustrated, today announced a long-term partnership to usher in the future of the SI brand.
Minute Media has obtained the publishing rights for the legendary sports brand across digital and print platforms.
Minute Media is home to other leading and complimentary sports and culture content brands, The Players’ Tribune, FanSided, 90min, and its most recent 2024 acquisition, STN Video, which has rights to premium highlights from every major sports league in North America for online video platform distribution.
Sports Illustrated’s publishing portfolio includes:
- Sports Illustrated
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
- Sports Illustrated Kids
Minute Media will oversee all digital and print editorial operations across the SI portfolio, which has been the industry leader in dedicated sports journalism for decades.
Minute Media plans to leverage its premium sports content expertise and its technology platform that powers the creation, global distribution, and monetization of hundreds of digital content brands, to continue to grow the Sports Illustrated media business.
With the addition of Sports Illustrated, Minute Media’s 360-degree digital sports content offering boasts sports highlight rights, athlete-first storytelling, global football coverage, localized fandom, and now, the most legendary and trusted brand in sports journalism.
“Sports Illustrated is the gold standard for sports journalism and has been for nearly 70 years across both print and digital media. The weight and power of that distinction cannot be understated. 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,” said Asaf Peled, Founder and CEO of Minute Media.
With this new addition, Minute Media plans to honor the legendary status of Sports Illustrated by pushing toward technological innovation, catering to a wider audience on a global scale while also maintaining the core mission of the brand.
Daniel W. Dienst, Authentic’s Executive Vice Chairman, TacticalOps, added: “In Minute Media we have found a partner that will honor SI’s lauded legacy and exceed fan expectations for the future. 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. Minute Media has successfully proven that they are leading the way in a new era of sports storytelling, and we are excited and optimistic about this partnership and the future of Sports Illustrated as the preeminent lens into sport.”
Authentic will also acquire an equity stake in Minute Media.
