Ziff Davis

Ziff Davis Inc. The American media company is (ZD).

Assets

For March, 2013 among company assets appeared:

• AppScout.com
• DL.TV
• ExtremeTech
• Geek.com
• GoodCleanTech.com
• PC Magazine
• Toolbox.com/IT Toolbox

IGN Network:

• IGN
• UGO Networks
• AskMen.com

History

2017: Purchase of the Mashable IT portal

On December 5, 2017 it became known of purchase of the American Mashable IT portal by Ziff Davis media holding. Transaction amount appeared five times the low price at which earlier the portal was estimated by experts.

The known Mashable IT portal is sold for $50 million

According to Recode, purchase of Mashable cost the new owner less than $50 million. It is interesting that in the spring of financing, the 2016th during the round, which brought to the edition of $15 million, specialists estimated the portal at $250 million.

In November, 2017 announced the authoritative magazine The Wall Street Journal sales opportunity of Mashable.

Observers of TechCrunch note that it was decided to sell Mashable after in 2017 the edition unsuccessfully tried to raise additional resources for development of the project. Most likely, Mashable was comprehended by failure because of the loss predicted in 2017 connected with the solution it is more attention to give to video content.^[1]

Initially Mashable specialized in a subject of technologies, but after the 2012th expanded a focus of interest and began to write practically on all news subjects, from policy before entertainments, and in the 2016th announced intention to develop video content.

Founder of Mashable Pete Cashmore

The new owner of Mashable is going to return the portal to its native subject of technologies again. Besides, the people familiar with plans of Ziff Davis reported that the media conglomerate intends to dismiss about 50 people from staff of Mashable, and to offer some employees participation in other Ziff Davis projects. At the same time the founder of Mashable Pete Cashmore will remain in the company.

During our last meeting you asked whether there will be any changes in the company after its purchase. Unfortunately, should confirm that it so. It is very difficult to see how colleagues and friends leave the company. Such solutions are always given hardly and painfully, and I assure that it was necessary to take these measures after careful reflections about what will be the best for future strategy and structure of Mashable which will result the portal in success and prosperity in the future — Pete Keshmor wrote in the letter to employees.[2]

2013

Merger of advertizing network NetShelter

In May, 2013 Ziff Davis announced a company takeover of NetShelter owning the advertizing network working in the field of consumer electronics and mobile communications. In a combination with network of the technology websites Ziff Davis this transaction turned the company into the leader in the market of the USA with audience, according to comScore, 29 million readers in April, 2013 in the USA.

Purchase of IGN Entertainment from News Corporation

On February 4, 2013 j2 Global announced that its subsidiary company Ziff Davis received control over IGN Entertainment - the media company leading in content segment about video games, entertainments and male style. The enterprise was redeemed from News Corporation. More than 600 advertisers are the share of acquired assets. Monthly audience - 53 million visitors. It was announced that as a result of the transaction business revenues of j2 Global in the field of digital media will double.

2012: Ziff Davis is sold to j2 Global company

On November 12, 2012 Ziff Davis was sold to the Hollywood supplier of cloud services of j2 Global company for $167 million by cash. The editorial offices of the Ziff Davis magazines and offices of online projects are in New York, San Francisco and the city of Voburn (State of Massachusetts) at this time.

2010: Vivek Shah redeems Ziff Davis

On June 4, 2010 the former head of Time company Vivek Shah financed by the Boston fund of investments Great Hill Partners announced merger of Ziff Davis "as the first step in creation of new digital media company which makes and extends content for the consumers making important decisions on purchases".

2009: Sale of 1UP.com

On January 6, 2009 the company sells the 1UP.com project of UGO Entertainment company (division of Hearst Corporation) and in the same month announces issue of the last magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.

2008: Declaration of bankruptcy

On March 5, 2008 Ziff Davis Media declared bankruptcy and protection against creditors.

1998: Start of television network ZDTV

Ziff Davis had several television assets. In 1998 the company started own network ZDTV later renamed into TechTV. In 2001 TechTV was sold to Vulcan Ventures company.

1980: Focus on computer technologies

Since 1980 the emphasis was placed on issue of magazines on a subject of computer technologies. Start of websites of magazines turned Ziff Davis into the Internet company over time.

1927: Basis of the publisher of the Ziff Davis magazines

Ziff Davis was created in 1927 in Chicago by William Ziff and Bernard Davies. The most part of the history the company specialized in issue of magazines for geeks. Editions had accurate orientation to large advertisers in such spheres as cars, the photo and electronics.

Business in Russia

In Russia since 1991 according to the licenses Ziff Davis magazines of the Press SK publishing house are issued. The PC Magazine/RE edition was closed in 2018.

The sold assets

• ZDNet
• ZDTV (TechTV is later)
• 1UP.com
• GameTab.com
• GameVideos.com
• MyCheats.com
• FileFront

The closed magazines and online projects

• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
• Computer Gaming World
• GameNOW|GameNOW (a.k.a EGM2 and Expert Gamer)
• GMR
• Official US PlayStation Magazine
• Yahoo! Internet Life
• Xbox Nation
• Patch Management
• Small Business Center
• PC/Computing
• Sm@rt Partner
• Windows Sources
• Ziff Davis - Comic Groups
• PC Magazine (the paper edition is closed in January, 2009, only the website is supported)

Notes