Meredith Sells FanSided to Minute MediaMeredith Sells FanSided to Minute Media

Minute Media has acquired sports and lifestyle publisher FanSided from Meredith for an undisclosed amount. 

Terms of the deal will see FanSided and its collection of individual sites remain standalone properties. All websites will operate within the Minute Media group of publishers. FanSided staff will also join Minute Media following the acquisition. 

Minute Media’s acquisition followed the purchase of Derek Jeter’s Players’ Tribune publication last November. The deal added to a string of property purchases by Minute Media that also included “The Big Lead” and “Mental Floss.”

“FanSided’s approach to community and fandom is a perfect complement to Minute Media’s existing properties,” says Asaf Peled, founder and chief executive officer, Minute Media. “FanSided, combined with The Players’ Tribune’s athlete-perspective, provides our readers, partners and advertisers with what we believe to be the most well-rounded and holistic sports digital offering. We are excited to welcome the FanSided team to the Minute Media family.”

FanSided publishes a collection of more than 300 media sites focused on specific professional sports teams, college sports, pop culture fandoms and lifestyle trends. The publisher debuted in 2009 as part of a venture from brothers Zach and Adam Best. In 2015, FanSided was acquired by Time Inc., which was acquired by Meredith three years later.

“We are pleased to have found such a great home for FanSided,” adds John Zieser, chief development officer, Meredith. “We are confident Minute Media will leverage its outstanding asset portfolio and technology platform to grow the FanSided network.”

Meredith also sold Sports Illustrated last year. The 2019 deal saw ABG acquire Sports Illustrated for $10 million. Shortly after the completion of the agreement, ABG licensed the Sports Illustrated brand to digital media company Media Maven.