Media & Digital Publishing
Newspapers, digital media, publishing companies acquired by PE
PE-Owned Brands
Clear Channel Outdoor (iHeartMedia)
Owned by Bain Capital
Bain Capital and THL Partners took Clear Channel Communications private for $26.7B in 2008 — one of the largest LBOs before the financial crisis. The company (renamed iHeartMedia) filed for bankruptcy in 2018 with $20B in debt.
0 locations tracked
Cox Media Group
Owned by Apollo Global Management
Apollo Global Management acquired Cox Media Group's TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers from Cox Enterprises for $3.1B in 2019. The sale included 33 local TV stations, 54 radio stations, and several newspapers. Significant layoffs followed.
0 locations tracked
Endeavor Group (WME / IMG)
Owned by Silver Lake
Silver Lake invested heavily in Endeavor Group (parent of WME talent agency and IMG sports marketing) starting in 2012, ultimately owning 18%+. Endeavor went public in 2021. The acquisition of UFC in 2016 for $4B (with KKR and MSD) is part of the Endeavor umbrella.
0 locations tracked
G/O Media (Deadspin)
Owned by Great Hill Partners
Publisher of Deadspin, Gizmodo, Jezebel, The Onion. Great Hill dismantled the portfolio — entire Deadspin staff resigned, Jezebel shuttered, all properties sold off.
4 locations tracked
The Weather Channel (IBM Watson Weather)
Owned by Bain Capital
Bain Capital, Blackstone, and NBC Universal acquired The Weather Channel for $3.5B in 2008. The company struggled with debt and cord-cutting. IBM acquired the data business in 2016 for $2B; the TV channel was sold to Entertainment Studios.
0 locations tracked