Vox Media
Encyclopedia
Vox Media Inc. is an American global internet media company that currently has two major editorial brands, SB Nation
and The Verge (website)
. Vox is headquartered at 1740 N St NW in Washington. Founded in 2003 by political activist Jerome Armstrong
, freelance writer Tyler Bleszinski and Markos Moulitsas (creator of Daily Kos
), the network features over 300 sites with over 400 paid writers.
Vox's portfolio currently includes sports network SB Nation
and technology website The Verge (website)
. The company focuses on developing high-quality grassroots content on the web, offering over 300 distinct community-focused websites, each with its own name, URL, brand, writers, and guidelines. The sports network, SBNation.com, covers most or all teams of the MLB, NBA, NFL, MLS
, and NHL, as well as NASCAR
, MMA
, college sports, pro cycling
, and other sports.
Former AOL
programming chief Jim Bankoff
is chairman and CEO of Vox Media Inc.
had grown to more than 300 separate web sites maintained primarily by part-time contract writers. They put together posts, facilitate dialogue and interact with commenters. At a kickoff event in February 2009, there were about 185 blogs. ComScore, the Reston-based tracker of consumer Internet habits, tallied 5.8 million unique visitors to SB Nation Web sites during the month of November 2010. That 208 percent increase over the 1.9 million unique visitors in November 2009 makes SB Nation the fastest growing sports Web site the company tracks.
As of December, 2010, SB Nation has 12 million unique visitors and over 100 million page views monthly, according to CEO Jim Bankoff. Expansion includes mobile and going global, into the "European Premier (soccer) League." [sic]
, with participation from Accel Partners
and Comcast Interactive Capital. The funding will be used to facilitate the site’s growth, fueling acquisitions and driving sales. The Washington, D.C.-based company has raised about $23.5 million in total from Accel Partners
, Comcast Interactive Capital, Khosla Ventures
, as well as Allen & Company
, Providence Equity Partners
, and various angel investors, including Ted Leonsis
, Dan Rosensweig
, Jeff Weiner, and Brent Jones
.
away from ESPN, where he had worked for 15 years in what CEO Jim Bankoff called a "high profile hire".
Jason Rosenberg, lead writer of the ESPN-affiliated SweetSpot Network site, It’s About The Money, wrote that he expects the network to continue without Neyer: "It’s my understanding that the SweetSpot Network will continue to operate. Someone will be hired to replace Rob and that person will surely be motivated to take the contributions from around the SSN to even greater heights." On March 23, David Schoenfield took over the job.
On March 30, 2011 SB Nation launched Baseball Nation. Baseball Nation features writers Jason Brannon, Carson Cistulli
, editors Rob Neyer, Jeff Sullivan and Grant Brisbree.
was the editor of Engadget until March 2011. Topolsky and eight of the more prominent editorial and technology staff members (including Nilay Patel, Ross Miller, Joanna Stern, Chris Ziegler, Paul Miller, Justin Glow, and Dan Chilton) at Engadget left AOL to join SB Nation to build a new tech and gadget site. While Topolsky and his team were developing the new site, a 'placeholder' site called This Is My Next was created to allow them to continue writing articles and producing podcasts. In a reference to the new website Topolsky is quoted as saying, “We’re not trying to be Twitter or Facebook, as in this new thing people are using, we want to be something that is just the evolved version of what we have been doing.” The new technology network—The Verge—launched on November 1, 2011.
SB Nation
SB Nation is a sports network owned and operated by Vox Media with more than 300 separate web sites maintained primarily by part-time contract writers. They put together posts, facilitate dialogue and interact with commenters. At a kickoff event in February 2009, there were about 185 blogs...
and The Verge (website)
The Verge (website)
The Verge is an American technology news and media network operated by Vox Media with offices in Manhattan, New York...
. Vox is headquartered at 1740 N St NW in Washington. Founded in 2003 by political activist Jerome Armstrong
Jerome Armstrong
Jerome Armstrong is an American political strategist and blogger. He is credited as one of the architects of Howard Dean's '04 grassroots Presidential campaign, and one of the leading web strategists in the world...
, freelance writer Tyler Bleszinski and Markos Moulitsas (creator of Daily Kos
Daily Kos
Daily Kos is an American political blog that publishes news and opinions from a progressive point of view. It functions as a discussion forum and group blog for a variety of netroots activists, whose efforts are primarily directed toward influencing and strengthening the Democratic Party...
), the network features over 300 sites with over 400 paid writers.
Vox's portfolio currently includes sports network SB Nation
SB Nation
SB Nation is a sports network owned and operated by Vox Media with more than 300 separate web sites maintained primarily by part-time contract writers. They put together posts, facilitate dialogue and interact with commenters. At a kickoff event in February 2009, there were about 185 blogs...
and technology website The Verge (website)
The Verge (website)
The Verge is an American technology news and media network operated by Vox Media with offices in Manhattan, New York...
. The company focuses on developing high-quality grassroots content on the web, offering over 300 distinct community-focused websites, each with its own name, URL, brand, writers, and guidelines. The sports network, SBNation.com, covers most or all teams of the MLB, NBA, NFL, MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, and NHL, as well as NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, college sports, pro cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and other sports.
Former AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
programming chief Jim Bankoff
Jim Bankoff
James Philip "Jim" Bankoff is Chairman and CEO of SB Nation and is also a Senior Advisor for Providence Equity Partners. As the former Executive Vice President of Programming and Products at AOL, Bankoff has developed and led many notable websites including Aol.com, Mapquest, Moviefone, AOL Music,...
is chairman and CEO of Vox Media Inc.
Growth
As of March, 2011, Vox Media's SB NationSB Nation
SB Nation is a sports network owned and operated by Vox Media with more than 300 separate web sites maintained primarily by part-time contract writers. They put together posts, facilitate dialogue and interact with commenters. At a kickoff event in February 2009, there were about 185 blogs...
had grown to more than 300 separate web sites maintained primarily by part-time contract writers. They put together posts, facilitate dialogue and interact with commenters. At a kickoff event in February 2009, there were about 185 blogs. ComScore, the Reston-based tracker of consumer Internet habits, tallied 5.8 million unique visitors to SB Nation Web sites during the month of November 2010. That 208 percent increase over the 1.9 million unique visitors in November 2009 makes SB Nation the fastest growing sports Web site the company tracks.
As of December, 2010, SB Nation has 12 million unique visitors and over 100 million page views monthly, according to CEO Jim Bankoff. Expansion includes mobile and going global, into the "European Premier (soccer) League." [sic]
Funding
In November, 2010, SportsBlogs Inc. secured $10.5 million in a Series C round led by Khosla VenturesKhosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on early stage companies in the Internet, computing, mobile, silicon technology and clean technology sectors....
, with participation from Accel Partners
Accel Partners
Accel Partners is a global venture and growth equity firm funding companies from inception through the growth stage.The firm is based in Palo Alto, California with major offices in Bangalore, Beijing, London, and Shanghai....
and Comcast Interactive Capital. The funding will be used to facilitate the site’s growth, fueling acquisitions and driving sales. The Washington, D.C.-based company has raised about $23.5 million in total from Accel Partners
Accel Partners
Accel Partners is a global venture and growth equity firm funding companies from inception through the growth stage.The firm is based in Palo Alto, California with major offices in Bangalore, Beijing, London, and Shanghai....
, Comcast Interactive Capital, Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on early stage companies in the Internet, computing, mobile, silicon technology and clean technology sectors....
, as well as Allen & Company
Allen & Company
Allen & Company is a boutique investment bank based at 711 Fifth Avenue, New York City.-History:Founded in 1922 by Charles Robert Allen, Jr., he was soon joined by his brother, Herbert A. Allen, Sr...
, Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is a global private equity investment firm focused on media, entertainment, communications and information investments...
, and various angel investors, including Ted Leonsis
Ted Leonsis
Theodore John Leonsis is an Internet pioneer, sports team owner, venture capital investor, filmmaker, author and philanthropist. His early new media company, Redgate Communications was acquired by America Online in 1994, and Leonsis became a senior AOL executive for the next 13 years...
, Dan Rosensweig
Dan Rosensweig
Dan Rosensweig was the chief operating officer of Yahoo! Inc. from 2002 to 2007. He later became CEO at Guitar Hero and then at Chegg.He graduated from Hobart College, in Geneva, NY in 1983.-References:...
, Jeff Weiner, and Brent Jones
Brent Jones
Brent Michael Jones is a former American Football tight end who played almost his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1987 to 1997. He was selected in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1986 NFL Draft...
.
Rob Neyer & Baseball Nation
In February, 2011, SB Nation hired Rob NeyerRob Neyer
Rob Neyer is a baseball author and writer for SB Nation. He started his career working for Bill James and STATS, and then joined ESPN.com as a columnist from 1996 to January 2011 before becoming SB Nation's National Baseball Editor...
away from ESPN, where he had worked for 15 years in what CEO Jim Bankoff called a "high profile hire".
Jason Rosenberg, lead writer of the ESPN-affiliated SweetSpot Network site, It’s About The Money, wrote that he expects the network to continue without Neyer: "It’s my understanding that the SweetSpot Network will continue to operate. Someone will be hired to replace Rob and that person will surely be motivated to take the contributions from around the SSN to even greater heights." On March 23, David Schoenfield took over the job.
On March 30, 2011 SB Nation launched Baseball Nation. Baseball Nation features writers Jason Brannon, Carson Cistulli
Carson Cistulli
Carson Cistulli is an American poet, essayist and English professor. His works of poetry include Some Common Weaknesses Illustrated, Assorted Fictions, and A Century of Enthusiasm.- Early Years :...
, editors Rob Neyer, Jeff Sullivan and Grant Brisbree.
The Verge
Joshua TopolskyJoshua Topolsky
Joshua Topolsky is an American technology journalist. He is also a record producer, drummer, and DJ under the stage name Joshua Ryan. Topolsky is the co-founder and founding editor in chief of the technology news network The Verge. Before The Verge, he was the editor in chief at Engadget...
was the editor of Engadget until March 2011. Topolsky and eight of the more prominent editorial and technology staff members (including Nilay Patel, Ross Miller, Joanna Stern, Chris Ziegler, Paul Miller, Justin Glow, and Dan Chilton) at Engadget left AOL to join SB Nation to build a new tech and gadget site. While Topolsky and his team were developing the new site, a 'placeholder' site called This Is My Next was created to allow them to continue writing articles and producing podcasts. In a reference to the new website Topolsky is quoted as saying, “We’re not trying to be Twitter or Facebook, as in this new thing people are using, we want to be something that is just the evolved version of what we have been doing.” The new technology network—The Verge—launched on November 1, 2011.
External links
- Vox Media Official Website