finance
Vox Media Explores Sale of Podcast Network and New York Magazine Brands
Vox Media is in talks to sell its podcast network and New York Magazine brands to James Murdoch's Lupa Systems for $300 million or more. The company has been divesting selected assets after years of acquisitions that built a portfolio including The Verge, SB Nation and Eater. Forbes reported the moves reflect broader challenges facing digital media companies.
May 11, 3:34 PM·2m read1 source
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Vox Media is actively shopping its SB Nation sports network as part of a plan to sell selected assets, with potential deals expected as early as June 2026. The company spent much of last year seeking buyers for its podcast network and other properties, including exploring a full company sale.
It informed investors in February that the podcast network was no longer for sale. Talks have since resumed with multiple suitors, including Versant, a company formed from Comcast cable and digital brands. The Vox Media Podcast Network produces around 40 shows and is one of the most profitable parts of the business.
It generates between $60 million and $80 million in annual revenue and more than $20 million in profit. Advertising drives most revenue, with the show Pivot alone bringing in roughly $10 million a year.
Magazine and its verticals, including The Cut, Vulture, Grub Street, The Strategist and Intelligencer, generate roughly $100 million in annual revenue but recorded an estimated $6 million in profit last year. The Verge brings in an estimated $27.9 million a year and launched a subscription model in late 2024 to offset advertising weakness.
Eater produces between $5 million and $10 million annually and has expanded into branded content, live events and a restaurant discovery app. Vox Media assembled much of its current portfolio through acquisitions. These included New York Media in September 2019, Group Nine Media in December 2021 and February 2022, Recode in 2015, and Epic Magazine in April 2019.
The company sold its gaming brand Polygon for approximately $22 million last year.
