Minute Media Secures Sports Illustrated Publishing Rights in Transformational Deal with Authentic Brands Group
Global sports content and tech company Minute Media partners with brand powerhouse Authentic to grow Sports Illustrated globally; will helm editorial operations for Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and Sports Illustrated Kids
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 it’s 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, and 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 as well as 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 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. Minute Media has proven success in bringing sports content brands onto their platform and growing them, including Derek Jeter’s iconic athlete-first storytelling platform, The Players’ Tribune, which successfully expanded into multiple global markets in 2021.
Daniel W. Dienst, Authentic’s Executive Vice Chairman, Tactical Ops, 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.”
As part of the deal, Authentic will also acquire an equity stake in Minute Media.
ABOUT MINUTE MEDIA
Minute Media is a global technology and content company specializing in sports and culture. Minute Media’s proprietary tech platform enables the creation, distribution and monetization of digital short-form content experiences. They own leading sports content brands, The Players' Tribune, FanSided, and 90min, while also providing sports highlight rights through Minute Media’s most recent acquisition of STN Video, which is the North American industry leader in sports content distribution, holding premium partnerships with every major league in the US alongside an award-winning Online Video Platform. The company reaches 200M monthly users, powering 1,500+ content creators and 250+ distribution partners across 14 global markets in 10 languages. Minute Media has offices in New York, London, Tel-Aviv, São Paulo and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.MinuteMedia.com.
ABOUT AUTHENTIC BRANDS GROUP
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a unified platform that integrates M&A, brand strategy, creativity and digital innovation to unlock the power of its global Lifestyle and Entertainment portfolio. It connects strong brands with best-in-class partners to optimize long-term value in the marketplace. As the world’s largest sports and entertainment licensing company, Authentic’s brands generate more than $29 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 13,300-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 382,000 points of sale.
Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Sports Illustrated®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Reebok®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hunter®, Vince®, Hervé Léger®, Frye®, Nautica®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Sperry®, Rockport®, Eddie Bauer®, Boardriders®, Quiksilver®, Billabong®, Roxy®, DC Shoes®, RVCA®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Prince®, Izod®, Van Heusen®, Hart Schaffner Marx® and Thomasville®.
For more information, visit authentic.com.
Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and WeChat.
ABOUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
For 70 years, Sports Illustrated (SI) has been recognized for shaping modern culture at the intersection of sports, lifestyle, and entertainment. SI is a 360-degree platform that unites athletes, teams and fans worldwide through quality content, innovative digital experiences, unforgettable events, and original products. Its award-winning media arm brings powerful storytelling to life through probing profiles and up-to-date news on SI.com, across social media, and through its renowned print magazine whose cover is widely regarded as the most coveted space in sports media. The most trusted name in sports transcends media through SI Tickets, a fan-first ticketing platform, SI Resorts, the ultimate destination for active lifestyles & sports enthusiasts, SI Studios, the brand’s home for film, TV, and long form podcasts, and more. SI brings its unique perspective to marquee events and captivating brand activations including SI The Party, Club SI, the Sportsperson of the Year Awards, SI Swimsuit Launch Weekend, and the SI Circuit Series. For more information, visit SI.com. Follow Sports Illustrated on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook.
Contact:
Paige Graham, Minute Media
Amanda Brocato, RMG