Bike Magazine Sold To American Media

by editors on January 31, 2019

American Media, the parent corporation of Men’s Journal, Radar, US Weekly and more famously the National Enquirer (you know, the company run by Donald Trump’s friend David Pecker) is reportedly purchasing all the action sporting brands from Bike Magazine’s parent company The Enthusiast Network. Employees were apprently informed today (January 31, 2019) during an all-hands meeting at TEN’s headquarters in Carlsbad, California. 

Things may not be looking all that bright for current TEN employees. As one media executive who is not involved with either company told us, “I would assume this is going to be brutal. American Media has tons of debt, so I doubt they’re going to invest in anything. They probably see synergies and cost-cutting as a quick way to shape up the bottom line.”

According to a post on Transworld Motocross’s website (which has since been taken down) that magazine has been shuttered and similar things could be happening at other titles at TEN as well. Here is the entire note from TWMX’s Donn Maeda:

I founded TransWorld Motocross in November of 2000. At the time, the motocross magazine marketplace was crowded and we were the eighth title joining in on the fun. It was an exciting time, paired with my good friend Garth Milan and teamed with Revolution Advertising – a freelance agency that laid out the magazine – we built the foundation for what would become the world’s best-selling motocross magazine within only a matter of months.

It’s hard to cover all the highlights that I’ve enjoyed over the past two decades… there have been too many. We’ve produced over a dozen great motocross movies, successfully launched the largest local race series on the west coast…heck we even had a one-year stint helping produce TransWorld Motocross Japan. Most of all, the memories I treasure most are of all the places I’ve visited and the friends I’ve made. Watching racers I’ve met as mini riders grow up, rise through the ranks, and go on to be champions, has been a privilege…

Today, our parent company was purchased by another media entity that sadly, has no interest in moving forward with TransWorld Motocross, in spite of our overall success and profitability. That said, our magazine, web site, and race series are on hold. I say hold, because the same group of dedicated editors and salesmen who have built this brand alongside me are still committed to creating the same great content. We are actively working on a plan to resume business as usual.
So, as cliché as it sounds, this is not a goodbye…it’s a see ya’ soon!

Oh, and if you’d like to read the official press release from American Media about their purchase, please follow the jump.

AMERICAN MEDIA, LLC ACQUIRES THE ADVENTURE SPORTS NETWORK FROM TEN: PUBLISHING

NEW YORK, February 1, 2019 – American Media, LLC, a leading publisher of celebrity journalism, health and fitness, and lifestyle brands, today announced that it acquired the media assets comprising TEN: Publishing’s Adventure Sports Network (ASN). The addition of the ASN brands to American Media will bolster the American Media Active Lifestyle Group, which will now include the 14 adventure and sports brands including Bike, Powder, Surfer, the Transworld titles, and Snowboarder. The acquisition also includes management of the Dew Tour, one of the action sports industry’s marquee event series.

“The opportunity to merge the incredible ASN brands with our recent acquisition of Men’s Journal establishes a significant digital network and underscores American Media’s commitment to diversifying our brand offerings and revenue streams,” said American Media Chairman and CEO David J. Pecker. “I am confident that under the management of the Men’s Journal leadership, the addition of ASN’s incredible digital and social scale will be important factors in our continued growth and success.”

With the addition of the ASN brands, the American Media Active Lifestyle Group significantly increases its digital footprint. Combined with Men’s Journal, the group will now deliver more than 35 million social media fans and followers. Additionally, the ASN brands have proven to be among the most effective at engaging a millennial audience with video, delivering more than 60 million monthly views across their brands.

“ASN’s brands – focused on deep passion and engagement from their readership – are an extraordinary compliment to Men’s Journal,” said Men’s Journal Chief Content Officer Greg Emmanuel. “Our audience places a premium on high-quality, compelling content, and the new brands will help to further establish us as the ultimate destination for sports and adventure content.”

In addition to the publishing brands, American Media will also acquire a robust roster of experiential events and assume management of the Dew Tour, which hosted approximately 84,000 young, passionate fans at its events in Long Beach, CA and Breckenridge, CO last year. In addition to the Dew Tour, the ASN brands execute several consumer experiential, content-driven and sports-specific events.

Norb Garrett, President of ASN, said, “ASN has built a portfolio of the most enduring brands in the adventure sports media landscape. Under American Media’s leadership, we will continue to grow our multi-platform reach across digital, social, print, and experiential events.”

Kevin Mullan, President of TEN: Publishing, said, “We are excited for ASN to now be part of the American Media platform. TEN: Publishing looks forward to continuing to provide our audience with the highest-quality content as we focus our resources across our leading automotive titles.”

The Raine Group served as exclusive financial advisor to TEN: Publishing. Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal counsel to TEN: Publishing.

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Glen novinski July 28, 2019 at 2:07 pm

Trans world sent me a renewal card for my subscription in February 2019. I sent them 24.97$. They sent me a postcard one month layer saying I would be getting mens journal instead. So much for freedom of choice. FOR ALL YOU GREEDY PRICKS THAT WONT RETURN MY MONEY, CHOKE ON IT. KARMA IS REAL. IT WILL CATCH UP TO ALL INVOLVED HOPEFULLY THIS COUNTRY WILL SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO ERDADICATE THESE TYPE OF LOW LIFE PEOPLE.

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