Spanfeller Media Group

Spanfeller Media Group (SMG) was a digital media company founded in June 2010 by James "Jim" Spanfeller, a seasoned executive who previously led Forbes.com. Spanfeller, who has a background in English Literature and a long career in publishing with roles at Newsweek, Playboy, and Ziff Davis Media, established SMG to create premium content for specific, large-scale vertical markets underserved by dominant online hubs.

The company's strategy was to develop subject-specific digital destinations, focusing initially on food and active lifestyles. Its first major launch was The Daily Meal in January 2011, a website dedicated to all things food and drink. This was followed by The Active Times in June 2012, which centered on outdoor sports and an active lifestyle. SMG's business model relied on advertising revenue, creating content for brands, and utilizing advertising networks, with a focus on securing brand budgets rather than just programmatic advertising. The company raised approximately $13.7 million in venture capital funding from investors including Alpine Meridian, Inovia Capital, Lerer Hippeau, and RRE Ventures.

In December 2016, Spanfeller Media Group and its properties were acquired by Tribune Publishing (then known as Tronc) for $7.6 million. Following the sale, Jim Spanfeller later became the CEO of G/O Media in 2019, a new entity created after Great Hill Partners acquired Gizmodo Media Group and The Onion from Univision.

Keywords: digital media, online publishing, vertical content, The Daily Meal, The Active Times, food media, lifestyle media, Jim Spanfeller, Tribune Publishing, advertising model, content strategy, media acquisition, digital content