It’s a done deal: James Murdoch‘s Lupa Suystems has acquired New York magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and Vox.
Notably, Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff will also join New York and Vox within the new company, which will take the name Vox Media.
The deal gives Murdoch control over the prominent magazine, which includes sub-brands like The Cut, Vulture, Intelligencer, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street, as well as Vox.com, which originated the explainer news format, and produces popular shows like Today, Explained. The podcast networks includes shows like Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Criminal, and Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel.
“This acquisition aligns well with our existing holdings and investments and reflects both our interest in the forward edge of culture and our deep commitment to ambitious journalism and agenda-setting conversations,” said Murdoch in a statement. “It will allow us to apply new tools across the businesses we are building, adding substantial production, distribution, and editorial capability to our group.”
Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation, The Dodo, and The Verge are not included in the transaction. it is not immediately clear what will happen with those media brands.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with James and Lupa Systems. Each one of these Vox Media divisions is marked by its strong relevance with audiences, its commitment to quality, and its enormous growth potential,” Bankoff said. “We are incredibly proud to have built and scaled several of the leading media properties of this generation. Together under Lupa’s stewardship we are primed to be the best home for talent and the most dynamic media company of this new era.”
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