This Week in Startups E1003: The Athletic CEO & Co-founder Alex Mather is building a paid online sports media publication, shares insights on attracting investors in a seemingly dying industry, managing 500+ remote writers, creating interesting angles through unique coverage & more
Nov 22, 2019
Alex Mather, Co-founder and CEO of The Athletic, dives into the challenges of launching a paid sports publication in a seemingly dying industry. He shares insights on managing a large remote team of over 500 writers and transitioning from ad-based to subscription models. Mather discusses the impact of NHL and MLB coverage, scouting new talent from layoffs, and the role of sports gambling in America. Also covered are the effects of inflated media valuations and Apple's app store on digital content. It's a fascinating look at modern sports journalism!
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Underserved Sports Market
- Alex Mather launched The Athletic to address the underserved sports market.
- He saw an opportunity to provide in-depth coverage of local teams often overlooked by major publications.
Initial Investor Doubt
- Investors initially doubted The Athletic due to the perceived saturation of sports content.
- Mather countered by questioning the quality and originality of existing coverage.
Fortitude and Early Belief
- Mather emphasized the importance of fortitude when facing rejection from investors.
- He highlighted Charles Hudson as an early believer in The Athletic's subscription model.