Ross Levinsohn, Sports Illustrated CEO of The Arena Group, is profoundly impacting the publishing industry as a whole. Levinsohn has been responsible for the company’s publishing strategy for the past 18 months. During that time, the company has updated its technology stack, discontinued some platforms, and improved the profitability of its partnerships. While at the helm of Sports Illustrated, the industry’s preeminent sports publication, Levinsohn has implemented several strategies—including introducing a content paywall, licensing agreements, and new verticals—to diversify the publication’s revenue streams.

Arena Group’s scalable technological platform, monetization stack, and subscription infrastructure are all part of Levinsohn’s plan for the company. He has reoriented the newspaper to a vertical format and divided the media properties into business, sports, and lifestyle categories. The Arena Group prefers to expand by acquiring established online properties with a dedicated following and those that have won honors for their writing or featured professional photography. Podcasts and films with a specific focus are also included.

With Levinsohn at the helm, Sports Illustrated implemented a content barrier that has significantly improved the magazine’s earnings. The Arena Group had a 38% rise in print revenue, to $27.9 million, in the fourth quarter of 2021-22, with the increase being driven by a 56% increase in print subscription revenue. Jim Cramer, the business’s creator, left TheStreet in October 2021, yet the company was able to keep 86% of its subscribers.

The Arena Group has also succeeded in licensing agreements, online retail, and electronic sports. Sports Illustrated CEO has teamed up with 888 Holdings to launch SI Sportsbook, a center for online sports betting that capitalizes on the magazine’s illustrious name recognition. The publication has collaborated with Veritone to commercialize its video library, which dates back to 1954, and with iHeartMedia to provide podcasts.

The strategies and planning that Ross Levinsohn employs have led to his remarkable level of success. Because of his in-depth knowledge of the specifics of each industry and target demographic, he has established a dedicated following of customers eager to participate in newsletters, subscribe to content, interact with brands online, and form communities. The Arena Group has flourished under his visionary leadership. He is always thinking ahead to find ways to further the company’s reach and leave an indelible mark on the media industry.