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ESPN, the sports media giant that influences several types of media, moves away from a particular place: the press.
The Disney-controlled company announced Tuesday that it would close ESPN The Magazine, an influential sports publication published in newsstands since 1998, in September. The publication was no longer profitable, according to a person familiar with the subject.
"Consumer habits are changing rapidly, requiring ESPN to evolve as well. The only change here is that we stop printing it on paper and mailing it after the September issue of The Body Issue, the company said in a statement. "Our data shows that the vast majority of readers are already consuming our print journalism on digital platforms, and this approach will maximize our reach and impact. In the future, we will explore the possibility of publishing mast collections, such as "Body", in special and differentiated print formats.
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The editors are supposed to stay with the company, explains the person familiar with the situation. Most were already working for other areas of ESPN's digital media business. A "handful" of employees responsible for print production could be affected, but a decision on possible layoffs has not yet been reached, said this person. ESPN intends to continue to publish large magazine-style articles online with high-end photographs.
The demise of this magazine is yet another reminder of how the rise of digital media has affected once-strong printing properties. When ESPN launched its magazine in the late 1990s, this initiative was seen as a way to counter the influence of Sports Illustrated, Time Inc.'s powerful publication. In recent days, Sports Illustrated is part of Meredith Corp. During months.
ESPN Magazine has long served as a niche for celebrities such as Stuart Scott. The battle with his main rival seemed to take a turn when Rick Reilly, the longtime Sports Illustrated columnist, joined ESPN in 2008. King however stopped writing for ESPN The Magazine in 2014.
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