Active Interest Media

Active Interest Media (AIM) is a publisher specializing in "niche enthusiast magazines" (i.e. magazines targeted at hobbyists).

Active Interest Media
TypePrivate
Industrypublishing
Founded2003
FounderWind Point Partners, Efrem Zimbalist
HeadquartersFlatiron Parkway, Boulder
Key people
Andy Clurman CEO
Brian VanHeuverswyn CTO
OwnerB&W Communications
Number of employees
400
Websitewww.aimmedia.com

History

The company was formed in 2003 by private-equity investment firm Wind Point Partners by the acquisition of Sabot Publishing, a "special interest" publisher based in Richmond, VA which had been established in 1999 by James Causey and Colonnade Capital.[1] In July 2017, the company announced that it had acquired the United States Team Roping Championships and the TRIAD Classification Agency.[2] In 2020, AIM sold these properties in conjunction with the sale of many of its largest divisions to Pocket Outdoor Media.[3]

Overview

Active Interest Media publications are organized in two "groups", the Home Buyer Group (home improvement, architecture, interior design etc.); and the Marine Group (sailing, yachts, etc.).

On 7 November 2012, PixelMags Inc. announced that they had reached an agreement with Active Interest Media to distribute magazine content digitally.[4]

In March 2017, Active Interest Media sold its Yachting Promotions Inc. division to Informa for $133 million.[5] The sale included the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Yachts Miami Beach, the Palm Beach International Boat Show, the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, and the Suncoast Boat Show.[6]

On 30 April 2013, Active Interest Media purchased the SKI and Skiing magazines, Warren Miller Entertainment, and NASTAR from the Bonnier Mountain Group.[7] In 2015, Active Interest Media purchased August Home Publishing, publisher of Woodsmith magazine.[8] Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is Efrem Zimbalist III (the son of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.), formerly of Times Mirror Magazines, a subsidiary of Times Mirror.

In 2019, Active Interest Media acquired the “collectibles” magazines from F+W Media, which includes Coins, Numismatic News, Writer’s Digest, Popular Woodworking, and Horticulture.[9]

In 2020, Active Interest Media sold off divisions including "several of its largest publications" to Pocket Outdoor Media of Boulder, Colorado (which was renamed to Outside Inc. the following year); the sale included the magazines Backpacker, Better Nutrition, Clean Eating, Climbing, Muscle & Performance, NatuRx, Oxygen, SKI, Vegetarian Times, and Yoga Journal, as well as the digital outlet SNEWS and the action sports film studio Warren Miller Entertainment.[10]

In 2021, Wind Point sold AIM to B&W Communications, a company founded by CEO Andy Clurman.[11] In 2021, Active Interest Media sold its Equine Network properties to Growth Catalyst Partners.[12]

References
  1. "Sabot Publishing Inc. was acquired by Cruz Bay Publishing Inc. Sabot was established by Commonwealth Investors II in during 1999 as a media company whose objective is to acquire leading specialty magazines. Sabot's principal focus is on consumer magazines with circulation under 100,000 which are leaders in their market niche. Sabot Communications has acquired Black Belt magazine, a martial arts publication, Ohara Publications, Southwest Art magazine, and Garlinghouse." insideview.com 2013-02-06 Archived 2013-04-11 at archive.today. "Cruz Bay Publishing, a subsidiary of newly created Active Interest Media (AIM), is headed by Efrem 'Skip' Zimbalist III" AIM press release
  2. Storum, Doug (12 July 2017). "Active Interest Media acquires U.S. Team Roping Championships". BizWest. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. "Active Interest Media Sells Several Magazines to Pocket Outdoor Media". Folio. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. PixelMags Signs Another Content Partner for Readr(R): Active Interest Media Commits Their Entire Portfolio for AnyTime(R) (press release, marketwatch.com)
  5. Hall, Tom (3 March 2017). "Informa acquires major US yacht shows from active interest media". Exhibition World. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. "Informa acquires 5 major US yacht shows for $133 million". Yacht Harbour. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  7. Blevins, Jason (30 April 2013). "Active Interest Media buys Boulder's SKI, Skiing, Warren Miller Entertainment and Nastar". The Balance Sheet. The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. Patane, Matthew (2 November 2015). "Des Moines publisher of Woodsmith magazine sold". The Des Moines Register.
  9. "Active Interest Media Acquires Four F+W Groups Including Numismatics". numismaticnews.net. F+W Media. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  10. Dool, Greg (30 June 2020). "Active Interest Media Sells Several Magazines to Pocket Outdoor Media". Folio:.
  11. https://aimmedia.com/active-interest-media-acquired-bw-communications-llc/
  12. https://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2021/01/11/294182/growth-catalyst-partners-acquires-equine-network
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