LGBTQ+ sports site Outsports grows revenue and audience by over 50% under new ownership

"Vox Media sold Outsports, which covers LGBTQ+ athletes, to Q.Digital last March in an "acqui-hire" deal (a non-cash transaction where Q.Digital took over Outsports' operations and revenue costs while keeping the team intact). It was part of Vox Media's reorganization to focus on its core brands last year. Under its new owners - which have other LGBTQ+ focused titles like Queerty and Gay Cities in its portfolio - Outsports has grown revenue by about 50% year over year,"

"and unique visitors are up over 60% since it was acquired, according to Scott Gatz, CEO of Q.Digital, a privately-owned company based in San Francisco. He declined to share raw revenue figures. That revenue growth is primarily due to the increase in digital readership, as well as selling more ads around Outsports' coverage, such as sponsored video series like "Ballin Out," (which follows LGBTQ athletes on the USA Women's Wheelchair Basketball team), new verticals and the Olympics last year."

Vox Media sold Outsports to Q.Digital last March in an acqui-hire deal that transferred operations and revenue costs while keeping the team intact. Under Q.Digital, Outsports' revenue grew about 50% year over year and unique visitors increased over 60%. Revenue growth resulted from higher digital readership and increased ad sales, including sponsorships, sponsored video series such as "Ballin Out," new verticals and Olympics coverage. Most display ads sell at approximately $15 CPM. Outsports signed sponsors including Xfinity, Cadillac, Planet Fitness, Nissan, Chevy and Ally after previously relying on run-of-network programmatic ads.

Read at Digiday