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Motor Trend Group

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Motor Trend Group, LLC
Formerly
  • Source Interlink Media (2007–2014)
  • TEN: The Enthusiast Network (2014–2018)
Company typePrivate Subsidiary
IndustryMass media
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Headquarters
El Segundo, California
,
United States
Products
OwnerHearst Magazines
ParentTNT Sports (majority)
Websitewww.motortrendgroup.com

Motor Trend Group, LLC, formerly known as Source Interlink Media and TEN: The Enthusiast Network, is a media company that specializes in enthusiast brands, such as Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and Roadkill. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, it was is a subsidiary of the TNT Sports division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)[1] until being sold to Hearst Magazines in 2024.

The company's network of brands includes more than 60 publications, 100 websites, Motor Trend's Video on Demand channel, branded and licensed products, live events and competitions, as well as TV and radio programs. TEN's total audience is 158 million.[2]

History

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Source Interlink logo

Source Interlink was an American magazine publishing and logistics company. It owned Source Interlink Distribution and Motor Trend Group. It maintained a strong position in automotive and action sports media, publishing a variety of magazines including Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and the Transworld titles.[3][4]

In September 2012, it was announced that Source Interlink Media (SIM) made a strategic investment in San Francisco technology company CoverHound to power its insurance searches.[5]

Through its GrindMedia action sports division, SIM signed a deal with the Bonnier Corporation in May 2013, where they sold Dirt Rider, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper and ATV Rider, whereas they bought Sound + Vision and the suite of TransWorld brands.[6]

On August 19, 2013, GrindMedia announced that production of Skateboarder will cease on October 15, 2013.[7] The Skateboarder announcement was followed by the closure of other publications, such as Modified, Mini Truckin', Bound By Ink, GEEK, and Law of Attraction, in January 2014.[8][9] Former Skateboarder editor-in-chief Jamie Owens was announced as the new editor-in-chief of TransWorld SKATEboarding in October 2013.[10]

On May 20, 2013, the company signed a deal with the Bonnier Corporation, where they sold Dirt Rider, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper, and ATV Rider, and they bought Sound + Vision and the TransWorld franchise.[11]

On May 29, 2014, Source Interlink CEO Michael L. Sullivan announced that its distribution arm would soon cease operations. Time, Inc. had withdrawn its business over the inability of Source Interlink Distribution to pay $19 million in revenues owed for second quarter 2014 sales and $7 million for sales booked in previous quarters.[12] The publishing arm would be rebranded under the umbrella of TEN: The Enthusiast Network after shuttering several Source Interlink Media titles, including Popular Hot Rodding, Rod & Custom, High Performance Pontiac, Custom Classic Trucks, 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility, Mud Life, 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords, Modified Mustangs & Fords, Camaro Performers, GM High-Tech Performance, Import Tuner, and Honda Tuning. In addition to editorial staff, there were further layoffs in art and production staff that was later explained by VPs and executives as needed cuts to keep TEN on a sustainable path since losing the large distribution arm of its core business to reach the claimed audience in its dwindling circulation and online presence.[13][14]

In 2015, NBC Sports shuttered its action sports division, and sold the Dew Tour to TEN.[15] On August 17 of that same year, TEN launched its subscription video on demand service Motor Trend OnDemand, which was the first SVOD service aimed at automotive enthusiasts.[16] TEN CEO Scott Dickey described this community as "underserved and starved for premium video content" while positioning the SVOD service as "The Netflix for Gearheads."[17]

In 2017, TEN sold the AMA EnduroCross Championship to the Bonnier Motorcycle Group.[18] TEN also sold Baseball America and Slam.[19]

On August 3, 2017, Discovery Communications announced it would acquire a majority stake in TEN, and contribute its automotive-oriented cable network Velocity into the company. The venture's goals is to create a larger, multi-platform presence for the company's brands, with a particular emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming products. On April 10, 2018, it was announced that the company had been renamed Motor Trend Group effective immediately, and that Velocity would be rebranded under the Motor Trend name later in the year.[20][21][22][23]

In March 2018, the company sold Sound & Vision and Stereophile, along with related magazines and websites, to AVTech Media Ltd.[24] In February 2019, the company sold its adventure sports portfolio to American Media.[25] In December 2019, the company announced that 19 of the 22 magazines published by the company would be discontinued that month, including Automobile.[26] In December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery sold the Motor Trend Group to Hearst Magazines. The sale included MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Roadkill and Automobile.[27]

Titles

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Publications and digital assets

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Video on demand & broadcasting

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Former titles

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Earlier discontinuations

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  • 8-Lug HD Truck magazine - ceased publication 2015
  • Audiostream - ceased publication 2018
  • Bound by Ink - ceased publication 2014
  • Canoe & Kayak - ceased publication 2017
  • Circle Track- ceased publication 2018
  • Dirt Sports + Off-Road - ceased publication 2018
  • European Car- ceased publication 2019
  • Geek- ceased publication 2014
  • Innerfidelity - ceased publication 2018
  • Intellichoice - ceased publication 2012
  • Law of Attraction Magazine - ceased publication 2013
  • Mini Truckin - ceased publication 2014
  • Off-Road- ceased publication 2019
  • Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic - ceased publication 2013
  • Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road- ceased publication 2019
  • Shutterbug - sold & ceased publication 2019
  • Snowboarder - sold & ceased publication 2020
  • Surfer - sold & ceased publication 2019
  • Surfing Magazine - ceased publication 2017
  • TransWorld Business- sold & ceased publication 2019
  • TransWorld Motocross- sold & ceased publication 2019
  • TransWorld Ride BMX - sold & ceased publication 2019
  • TransWorld SKATEboarding- sold & ceased publication 2019
  • TransWorld SNOWboarding - sold & ceased publication 2019

December 2019 discontinuations

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2020 discontinuations

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  • Bike - sold & ceased publication 2020
  • Powder - sold & ceased publication 2020
  • SUP Stand Up Paddler - sold & ceased publication 2020

Merchandise

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  • And1 Advertising

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MotorTrend Privacy Policy". Retrieved 2023-03-02. We are Motor Trend Group, LLC., registered in the United States of America with company number 6453648 whose registered office is at 8403 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States of America ("MTG"). MTG is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
  2. ^ "TEN: The Enthusiast Network". TEN: The Enthusiast Network. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. ^ "Source Interlink Media Rebrands As TEN: The Enthusiast Network". Transworld Business. GrindTV. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Motor Trend Publisher Source Interlink Media Folds 12 Magazines, Lays Off Nearly 100". Ad Age. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  5. ^ "CoverHound Announces Strategic Partnership with Source Interlink Media". 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  6. ^ Mike P (21 May 2013). "Grind Media Buys TransWorld". SBCBusiness.com. SBC Business Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  7. ^ Kailee Bradstreet (19 August 2013). "GRINDMEDIA TO DISCONTINUE PUBLISHING SKATEBOARDER MAGAZINE". TransWorld Business. GrindMedia. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  8. ^ Matt Hardigree (31 January 2014). "Modified Magazine Killed As Source Interlink Rumored To Lay Off Dozens". Jalopnik. Gawker. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Source Interlink Reportedly Folding Modified, Plus Dozens of Layoffs". 3 February 2014.
  10. ^ "TWS New Editor In Chief Jaime Owens Interview". Skateboarding Magazine. The Enthusiast Network. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  11. ^ Bazilian, Emma (2013-05-20). "Bonnier Acquires Source Interlink's Motorcycle Titles, Sells TransWorld Group". Adweek. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  12. ^ Kaufman, Leslie (May 30, 2014). "After Losing Time Inc. Business, Distributor Is to Close". New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  13. ^ Mickey, Bill (2014-05-30). "Source Interlink Media Rebrands, Closes 12 Titles New corporate identity: TEN: The Enthusiast Network". FolioMag.
  14. ^ "Source Interlink Media Rebrands As TEN: The Enthusiast Network". 2014-05-29.
  15. ^ Fischer, Ben (January 16, 2017). "New ownership gives Dew Tour some pop". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  16. ^ "TEN Officially Launches Groundbreaking Motor Trend OnDemand SVOD Service". www.motortrendgroup.com.
  17. ^ "TEN Officially Launches Groundbreaking Motor Trend OnDemand SVOD Service - Motor Trend Group". www.motortrendgroup.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10.
  18. ^ "Bonnier Motorcycle Group To Take Over Ownership of EnduroCross Series". Cycle World. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  19. ^ "Baseball America Sold | SGB Online". 14 February 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  20. ^ Evans, Greg (August 3, 2017). "Discovery Communications Partners With TEN Network For Auto Portfolio". Deadline. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  21. ^ Petski, Denise (2018-04-10). "Discovery Rebrands Velocity As Motor Trend Network". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  22. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2018-04-10). "Discovery Rebrands Velocity as Motor Trend Network (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  23. ^ "Discovery Launches 'Motor Trend On Demand' in UK on Amazon Channels". Multichannel. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  24. ^ "AVTech Media Ltd (UK) Acquires Home Tech Network From Ten Publishing Media". Stereophile.com. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  25. ^ "American Media Acquires TEN's Adventure Sports Magazines". Folio. 2019-02-05. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  26. ^ Gastelu, Gary (9 December 2019). "MotorTrend publisher TEN Publishing discontinuing 19 automotive magazines". Fox News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  27. ^ Spangler, Todd (2024-12-12). "Warner Bros. Discovery Sells MotorTrend Group to Hearst". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
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