Sports Illustrated Faces Potential Staff Layoffs Amid Publishing Rights Revocation

WASHINGTON – Sports Illustrated, an iconic American sports magazine, is confronting the possibility of significant staff layoffs, possibly affecting its entire workforce. The News Guild, representing the magazine’s employees, disclosed this development on Friday, signaling another challenging phase for the publication under the stewardship of the Arena Group.

According to the Philippines News Agency, Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the licensor, has informed the Arena Group, which operates Sports Illustrated, of its decision to revoke Arena’s license to publish the magazine. This move casts uncertainty over the future of the magazine’s staff and its continued publication. The union highlighted the difficulties faced by Sports Illustrated in the past four years under the Arena Group’s management, formerly known as The Maven.

The News Guild is advocating for the preservation of Sports Illustrated’s legacy, urging ABG to facilitate the magazine’s ongoing publication and serve its audience as it has for nearly seven decades. The union expects the Arena Group to adhere to the terms of the union contract and is prepared to fight for fair treatment of all colleagues involved.

The Arena Group acquired a decade-long publishing right for Sports Illustrated in 2019. However, the magazine has been mired in controversies in recent months. One notable incident involved the firing of former CEO Ross Levinsohn in December, following allegations of AI-generated content and the use of fabricated author information in the magazine.

Mitch Goldich, NFL editor and unit chair at Sports Illustrated, remains steadfast despite these challenges. He emphasized the union’s commitment to upholding the magazine’s standards and ensuring fair treatment for its workers, recognizing the value they bring to the company. Goldich affirmed the union’s determination to continue this fight.