Vice Media Inc., the youth-oriented media company, agreed to acquire the online publisher Refinery29, seeking to reignite growth by reaching a young female audience. The deal marks the biggest move yet by Vice Chief Executive Officer Nancy Dubuc, who has been trying to revive the once high-flying media company since taking over last year. Terms weren’t disclosed. The Refinery29 business will report directly to her. Vice, which began as a hipster music and lifestyle magazine, got investments from some of the biggest names in the media business. But it has struggled as its cable channel, Viceland, has failed to find an audience, and Facebook and Google have dominated the online advertising market. The deal unites two of the largest digital media startups in the world, with a combined reach of 350 million people a month, the companies said Wednesday. Vice has expanded into TV and advertising more swiftly than most of its peers, and will augment its production with Refinery29’s slate of shows. Refinery29’s businesses parallel Vice’s, but with a much greater female component. The company, for example, hosts events and operates a studio, creative agency and digital publishing division. It will remain a distinct brand within Vice. In May, Walt Disney Co. wrote off the rest of its investment in Vice, reflecting the ongoing troubles at the former media darling. Earlier this year, Vice let go a number of staffers. Dubuc has said a recent $250 million financing deal would help... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'
[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-02 19:51:02 UTC ]
Lloyd Shepherd, former director of news and information products at Yahoo and (disclaimer) deputy director of digital publishing at GU, has a new company and a new project in the form of Messy Media which is set to roll out a series of specialist news blogs.The company launched its first... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2007-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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