Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Lays Off Most Of Its Staff, Union Says

The future of Sports Illustrated was unknown Friday after the popular magazine and website’s owner laid off most or “probably all” of its guild-represented employees, according to its union.

The magazine’s owner announced in a memo that it is “laying off staff that work on the SI brand.”

Since 2019, Authentic Brands Group has owned both the magazine and the website. According to the publisher’s memo, it sold the publishing rights to Arena Group, but the company failed to pay for them recently, prompting ABG to revoke them.

“This is another difficult day in what has been a difficult four years for Sports Illustrated under Arena Group (previously The Maven) stewardship,” a statement released by the union said. “We are calling on ABG to ensure the continued publication of SI and allow it to serve our audience in the way it has for nearly 70 years.”

Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Lays Off Most Of Its Staff, Union Says

Arena Group and a spokeswoman for Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy and majority shareholder in Arena Group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The union expects ABG to honour its union contract and treat all of its employees properly.

“We have worked as a union to keep the calibre of this stories publication, which we adore, and to ensure that our employees are appropriately compensated for the value they offer to the organisation. “It is a fight we will not give up,” said Mitch Goldich, NFL editor and unit chair, in the union statement.

It’s been a challenging few months for one of the most well-known brands in sports media, and the brand’s future remains to be determined.

Ross Levinsohn, CEO of Sports Illustrated, was sacked by the Arena Group in December following an embarrassing incident where the magazine was caught publishing pieces using phoney author names and profile photographs created by artificial intelligence.

Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Lays Off Most Of Its Staff, Union Says

According to Vince Bodiford, Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy and the majority owner of The Arena Group, immediately took over as CEO.

The magazine is a popular sports magazine known for its in-depth coverage of various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball.

The magazine features exclusive interviews with athletes, insightful analysis of games and matches, and captivating photography that brings the sports action to life.

Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Lays Off Most Of Its Staff, Union Says

With a strong focus on storytelling, the magazine provides sports fans with engaging and informative content that captures the excitement and drama of the sports world.

Whether it’s uncovering the personal journeys of athletes or examining the latest developments in the sports industry, Sports Illustrated delivers compelling sports coverage to its readers.

SOURCE – (CNN)