Washington Post Sports is dead (HTTR)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

BTW, Chelsea Janes has joined SNY as a MLB insider.

this makes so much sense. I assume she'll cover the non-Mets portion of MLB.

[nobleisthyname]

I signed up for Zuck's journal too.   I don't know if it's a business model that can pay him a living wage, but I'm happy to support his effort.  He seems like a good guy and does a good job at covering the Nats.

He said he's close to 4000 subscribers in the first four days of launching on Nats Chat today. At $7/month that's conservatively $25K/month. I have no idea what his operating costs are or how much of a cut substack takes and who knows how many people will stay subscribed but that seems like he can make it work.

I signed up too.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He said he's close to 4000 subscribers in the first four days of launching on Nats Chat today. At $7/month that's conservatively $25K/month. I have no idea what his operating costs are or how much of a cut substack takes and who knows how many people will stay subscribed but that seems like he can make it work.

I signed up too.

I will guess it's going to be pretty seasonal in terms of subscribers. He probably gets 7 months or so from people then a lot drop him.

[imref]

He said he's close to 4000 subscribers in the first four days of launching on Nats Chat today. At $7/month that's conservatively $25K/month. I have no idea what his operating costs are or how much of a cut substack takes and who knows how many people will stay subscribed but that seems like he can make it work.

I signed up too.

not sure if that's 4,000 paid, or just 4k total, i suspect the latter.

[Slateman]

He said he's close to 4000 subscribers in the first four days of launching on Nats Chat today. At $7/month that's conservatively $25K/month. I have no idea what his operating costs are or how much of a cut substack takes and who knows how many people will stay subscribed but that seems like he can make it work.

I signed up too.

I mean, just so we're clear, there is a free subscription as well. I don't know how many are paying, but I think 4k is sufficient to assume a good portion are paying.

Big question is how many will cancel at the end of the season.

[aspenbubba]

IIRC there is a montly rate and an annual rate and a free one month subscription and then a more expensive option. I signed for the annual subscription. The 4K is a combo of all the options.

[nobleisthyname]

not sure if that's 4,000 paid, or just 4k total, i suspect the latter.

Ah that's true.

[imref]

well, he now has 4,001 paid subscribers. Nice to actually have a source of Nats news.

[rileyn]

I'm happy for Zuck.  Apparently, he had many people sign up at the Founders rate too, so that would help to overcome the free subscriptions.  It's a shame it's all going to evaporate when there is no baseball in 2027.  I hope he is harvesting his nuts for 2028.

[imref]

Monumental had a layoff yesterday.

[imref]

https://awfulannouncing.com/newspapers/baltimore-banner-dc-domain-names-washington-post-sports.html

[PowerBoater69]

Funny that the guys who drove the Nats into a ditch can't get an interview, but the guys who did the same to the Post are all finding jobs. I guess sports are more results based.

[Natsinpwc]

Funny that the guys who drove the Nats into a ditch can't get an interview, but the guys who did the same to the Post are all finding jobs. I guess sports are more results based.

Bezos already has a job.

[imref]

Nussbaum joining The Athletic as the Nationals' beat reporter.

Svrluga also joining The Athletic, mostly focused on The Commanders.

[Slateman]

Nussbaum joining The Athletic as the Nationals' beat reporter.

Svrluga also joining The Athletic, mostly focused on The Commanders.

https://www.nytco.com/press/the-athletic-welcomes-new-colleagues/

Barry Svrluga, Spencer Nusbaum, Candace Buckner, Ava Wallace, Adam Kilgore and Jason Murray bring their expertise to The Athletic

[Slateman]

Funny that the guys who drove the Nats into a ditch can't get an interview, but the guys who did the same to the Post are all finding jobs. I guess sports are more results based.

Bezos drove The Post into a ditch.

[PowerBoater69]

Bezos already has a job.

Bezos bought a failing paper, they did this to themselves.

[imref]

https://www.nytco.com/press/the-athletic-welcomes-new-colleagues/

Barry Svrluga, Spencer Nusbaum, Candace Buckner, Ava Wallace, Adam Kilgore and Jason Murray bring their expertise to The Athletic

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.nytco.com/press/the-athletic-welcomes-new-colleagues/

Barry Svrluga, Spencer Nusbaum, Candace Buckner, Ava Wallace, Adam Kilgore and Jason Murray bring their expertise to The Athletic

wow. I thought the post might hold onto Svrluga because he covered the Olympics, but this is  a good gig.

Janes is with SNY as a national reporter. Also a good gig.

I wonder if Golden will be the Banner's Nats guy? I think they said they hired somebody off the Post staff.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bezos bought a failing paper, they did this to themselves.

If Marty Baron is to be believed, the first few years went well. Subscriptions were up to 2.5 million by 2019. Not to get too political, but they started losing money around 2020/ 21, then took a huge hit (10%) when ownership started to be more active in content and brought in the CEO/ EiC from a Murdoch publication.

[Slateman]

If Marty Baron is to be believed, the first few years went well. Subscriptions were up to 2.5 million by 2019. Not to get too political, but they started losing money around 2020/ 21, then took a huge hit (10%) when ownership started to be more active in content and brought in the CEO/ EiC from a Murdoch publication.

Yep.

If any of these folks were considered bad, they wouldn't have jobs in an overly crowded market.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yep.

If any of these folks were considered bad, they wouldn't have jobs in an overly crowded market.

I grew up in the prime of the Boston Globe sports department, when they had Peter Gammons, Bob Ryan, Will McDonough, Dan Shaughnessy, Jacklie MacMullen, and Bud Collins, among others. It was just ridiculous. I'd say the WaPo was close to that level, especially before Boz retired.

[blue911]

I grew up in the prime of the Boston Globe sports department, when they had Peter Gammons, Bob Ryan, Will McDonough, Dan Shaughnessy, Jacklie MacMullen, and Bud Collins, among others. It was just ridiculous. I'd say the WaPo was close to that level, especially before Boz retired.

Whoever was the sports editor should get a nod as well.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Whoever was the sports editor should get a nod as well.

yes. I forget his name. I could have mentioned more but I  think this crew was all on board together.

[GataNats]

I grew up in the prime of the Boston Globe sports department, when they had Peter Gammons, Bob Ryan, Will McDonough, Dan Shaughnessy, Jacklie MacMullen, and Bud Collins, among others. It was just ridiculous. I'd say the WaPo was close to that level, especially before Boz retired.

Post was way past that level.   Wilbon, Kornheiser, Boswell, Jenkins, Feinstein, etc