Media Trends Executive

topics

politics-policy

epstein-files

donald-trump

2026-midterm-elections

immigration

behind-the-curtain

race-and-equity

technology

privacy-tech-regulation

automation-and-ai

tiktok-news

big-tech

social-media

cybersecurity

economy

social-security

inflation

tariffs

federal-reserve

jobs

transportation

business

stock-market-news

retail-news

crypto

media

elon-musk

dealmaking

health

rfk-jr

drug-prices

axios-explains-abortion

public-health

world

israel

axios-explains-ukraine

iran

russia

china

energy-climate

nuclear-energy

climate-energy-policy

climate-change

extreme-weather

alternative-energy

electric-vehicles

science

emerging-tech

biomedicine

newsletters

pittsburgh

atlanta

san-diego

charlotte

boulder

washington-dc

kansas-city

dallas

denver

detroit

des-moines

austin

boston

chicago

cleveland

columbus

houston

indianapolis

miami

nashville

new-orleans

nw-arkansas

philadelphia

phoenix

portland

richmond

salt-lake-city

san-antonio

san-francisco

seattle

tampa-bay

twin-cities

raleigh

huntsville

colorado-springs

axios-local

axios-pro

axios-live

the-axios-show

Media Trends

Axios Media Trends

Vox Media's board has discussed possibly spinning out its podcast network and separating it from the publishing business, three sources familiar with those conversations told Axios. 

Why it matters: Separating the businesses could reap greater shareholder value than trying to invest in the entire company as a whole. 

State of play: Vox Media has received active interest in its podcast network from strategic and financial sponsors, which is what's driving those conversations, sources told Axios. 

Vox Media's largest shareholder, Penske Media Corporation, is possibly interested in the company's digital publishing assets, but not the podcasting network, sources told Axios. 

Vox Media's publishing portfolio has more than a dozen brands, including The Verge, Eater, SB Nation, New York Magazine, The Dodo, The Cut and Vulture.

Buyers have had discussions about the value of Vox Media's publishing assets as it weighs possible interest from PMC. 

Spinning out the podcast business would presumably yield more value for PMC as a Vox Media shareholder, because it would be valued at a much higher growth multiple than the publishing arm.

Context: In 2023, Vox Media raised $100 million from PMC, home to publishing brands such as Variety, Rolling Stone and Billboard and events such as SXSW and Dick Clark Productions, to help weather a turbulent digital ad market.

Vox Media had discussed other strategic options, including a sale of all or part of its business, Axios reported.

By the numbers: Vox Media was valued at around $1 billion after a $200 million funding round in 2015. It was valued at around $500 million following the injection of cash from PMC.

Between those transactions, Vox Media invested significantly in scaling its digital publishing business. 

It acquired New York Magazine's parent company, New York Media, which was valued at $105 million, in 2019. And it acquired digital publisher Group Nine Media in 2022 in an all-stock deal. 

In recent years, Vox Media has consolidated some of its brands. It sold the gaming site Polygon in May. In 2023, it spun out NowThis, a site it acquired in the Group Nine Media deal. 

Zoom out: The conversations, which are exploratory and in early stages, represents how much Vox Media's business has shifted. 

Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff told Axios earlier this year the podcast network is the company's fastest-growing business.

The Vox Media Podcast Network, which features shows from Vox Media's own talent in addition to a slew of high-profile independent creators, is one of the largest podcast publishers in the U.S., per Podtrac. 

Flashback: Vox Media acquired New York Magazine and Group Nine in an era when large publishing groups were looking to scale their portfolios to build leverage against Big Tech firms. 

Around that same time, BuzzFeed merged with Complex and went public. Red Ventures acquired CNET. Group Nine acquired PopSugar. G/O Media bought Quartz. 

Yes, but: Nearly all of those mergers have since been unwound. Independent publishing groups that once eyed scale are now turning to niche businesses to survive. 

BuzzFeed eventually sold Complex for $200 million less than it bought it for and is now building an AI-focused social media app of its own. 

Red Ventures sold CNET to Ziff Davis last year for a fraction of what it paid. 

BDG Media is no longer looking to acquire websites. Instead, it's focused on growing influencer programs across its existing portfolio of sites, its CEO told Axios last month.  

G/O Media sold Quartz, as well as nearly every website it owned.

Scoop: Vox Media board has discussed spinning out podcast network

Vox Media has received active interest in its podcast network from strategic and financial sponsors.

Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff speaks onstage at an event wearing a olive green shirt over a navy blue button up shirt.

Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff speaks at SXSW on March 9 in Austin, Texas. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Vox Media

Dealmaking

Media

Social Media

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vox Media" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/sb-nation-redesign-vox-media" data-vars-content-id="fed61d98-4113-4650-8b71-1f70e3a92594" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Vox Media board has discussed spinning out podcast network" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/sb-nation-redesign-vox-media" target="_self">Vox Media</a>&#x27;s board has discussed possibly spinning out its podcast network and separating it from the publishing business, three sources familiar with those conversations told Axios. Why it matters: Separating the businesses could reap greater shareholder value than trying to invest in the entire company as a whole.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Scoop: Vox Media board has discussed spinning out podcast network

What to read next