Athletic, Axios talking merger?

If someone told you 10 years ago that today the Times would be a relatively healthy digital-only business, y'all would've laughed. The obit was already written and being copy edited for the third time in case it happened at any minute.

 

This explains plenty about the acquisition.

NYT gets to count The Athletic's subscribers as its own. In return, NYT will figure out how to "streamline" The Athletic's margins to make it bleed a little less/potentially make it profitable.

 

The New York Times has also started to sell ads at the Athletic. As these efforts ramp up these revenues will cover some portion of the hole.

 

Do full, paid subscribers to The Athletic automatically become subscribers to the NYT??

 

I got a notice that my full, paid subscription to The Athletic would be increasing at my next sub renewal period.

This, after seeing the "sign up for a dolla!" or whatever ridiculously low offers they were doing.

So, I canceled. I don't need it that badly.

 

I don't think so. I am still paying for each separately.

 

I am an unathletic Athletic subscriber. Never was told I could also get the NYT with it. So I’m guessing no.

 

And that might be the last time a story got a second read, much less a third. ... "Do More With Less!"

 

Sadly, you're correct. I wish you were not.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/08/axios-to-sell-itself-to-cox-enterprises-for-525-million.html


Curious if Vandehei just sunk his Politico profit into Axios, and how much money was put into Axios by others. The "front guys" always look like they're cashing in, but there are VCs and banks that get first crack at the dough.