Active Interest Media (AIM) is a publisher specializing in "niche enthusiast magazines" (i.e. magazines targeted at hobbyists).
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | publishing |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Wind Point Partners, Efrem Zimbalist |
| Headquarters | Grand Avenue, Des Moines |
Key people | |
| Owner | B&W Communications |
Number of employees | 400 |
| Website | www |
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]
On December 3, 2023, Active Interest Media acquired The Taunton Press, publisher of Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, Threads, Keep Craft Alive, and Fine Gardening .[13]
References
External links
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