Motor Trend Group

{{Infobox company

| name = Motor Trend Group, LLC

| logo = Motor Trend Group.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| former_names = {{Plainlist|

Source Interlink Media {{small|(2007–2014)}}
TEN: The Enthusiast Network {{small|(2014–2018)}}

}}

| industry = Mass media

| founded = {{start date and age|2007}}

| hq_location_city = El Segundo, California

| hq_location_country = United States

| products = {{ubl|Magazines}}

| parent = Hearst Magazines

| owner =

| website = {{URL|www.motortrendgroup.com}}

}}

Motor Trend Group, LLC (formerly known as Source Interlink Media and TEN: The Enthusiast Network) is a media company that specializes in enthusiast brands, such as Motor Trend and Hot Rod. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, it was a subsidiary of the TNT Sports division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD){{cite web|title=MotorTrend Privacy Policy|url=https://www.motortrendondemand.com/privacy-policy/|quote=We are Motor Trend Group, LLC., registered in the United States of America with company number 6453648 whose registered office is at 8403 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States of America (“MTG”). MTG is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.|accessdate=2023-03-02}} until being sold to Hearst Communications in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-12 |title=MotorTrend Acquired by Hearst, Owner of Car and Driver, Road & Track |url=https://autos.yahoo.com/motortrend-acquired-hearst-owner-car-200947253.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=The Drive |language=en-US}}

History

File:Source Interlink logo.png

Source Interlink was an American magazine publishing and logistics company. It owned Source Interlink Distribution and Motor Trend Group. It maintained a strong position in automotive and action sports media, publishing a variety of magazines including Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and the Transworld titles.{{cite web |date=29 May 2014 |title=Source Interlink Media Rebrands As TEN: The Enthusiast Network |url=http://www.grindtv.com/transworld-business/features/source-interlink-media-rebrands-ten-enthusiast-network/ |access-date=28 January 2017 |work=Transworld Business |publisher=GrindTV}}{{Cite news |title=Motor Trend Publisher Source Interlink Media Folds 12 Magazines, Lays Off Nearly 100 |url=http://adage.com/article/media/source-interlink-media-folds-lays-100-employees/293469/ |access-date=2018-04-20 |work=Ad Age |language=en}}

In September 2012, it was announced that Source Interlink Media (SIM) made a strategic investment in San Francisco technology company CoverHound to power its insurance searches.{{cite news |date=2012-09-12 |title=CoverHound Announces Strategic Partnership with Source Interlink Media |url=http://coverhound.com/press/coverhound-announces-strategic-partnership-with-source-interlink-media |access-date=2012-09-12}}

Through its GrindMedia action sports division, SIM signed a deal with the Bonnier Corporation in May 2013, where they sold Dirt Rider, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper and ATV Rider, whereas they bought Sound + Vision and the suite of TransWorld brands.{{cite web |author=Mike P |date=21 May 2013 |title=Grind Media Buys TransWorld |url=http://www.sbcbusiness.com/news-detail?news_id=2528 |access-date=14 August 2013 |work=SBCBusiness.com |publisher=SBC Business Magazine}}

On August 19, 2013, GrindMedia announced that production of Skateboarder will cease on October 15, 2013.{{cite web |author=Kailee Bradstreet |date=19 August 2013 |title=GRINDMEDIA TO DISCONTINUE PUBLISHING SKATEBOARDER MAGAZINE |url=http://business.transworld.net/139322/features/grindmedia-to-close-skateboarder-magazine/ |access-date=21 August 2013 |work=TransWorld Business |publisher=GrindMedia}} The Skateboarder announcement was followed by the closure of other publications, such as Modified, Mini Truckin', Bound By Ink, GEEK, and Law of Attraction, in January 2014.{{cite web |author=Matt Hardigree |date=31 January 2014 |title=Modified Magazine Killed As Source Interlink Rumored To Lay Off Dozens |url=http://jalopnik.com/modified-magazine-killed-as-source-interlink-rumored-to-1513215293 |access-date=23 February 2014 |work=Jalopnik |publisher=Gawker}}{{Cite web |date=3 February 2014 |title=Source Interlink Reportedly Folding Modified, Plus Dozens of Layoffs |url=http://www.foliomag.com/2014/source-inerlink-reportedly-folding-modified-plus-dozens-layoffs#.U4LsxCgWklk}} Former Skateboarder editor-in-chief Jamie Owens was announced as the new editor-in-chief of TransWorld SKATEboarding in October 2013.{{cite news |date=29 October 2013 |title=TWS New Editor In Chief Jaime Owens Interview |url=http://skateboarding.transworld.net/news/tws-new-editor-chief-jaime-owens-interview/ |access-date=16 July 2014 |newspaper=Skateboarding Magazine |publisher=The Enthusiast Network}}

On May 29, 2014, Source Interlink CEO Michael L. Sullivan announced that its distribution arm would soon cease operations. Time, Inc. had withdrawn its business over the inability of Source Interlink Distribution to pay $19 million in revenues owed for second quarter 2014 sales and $7 million for sales booked in previous quarters.{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Leslie |date=May 30, 2014 |title=After Losing Time Inc. Business, Distributor Is to Close |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/31/business/media/after-losing-time-inc-business-distributor-to-close.html?_r=0 |access-date=14 September 2016 |work=New York Times}} The publishing arm would be rebranded under the umbrella of TEN: The Enthusiast Network after shuttering several Source Interlink Media titles, including Popular Hot Rodding, Rod & Custom, High Performance Pontiac, Custom Classic Trucks, 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility, Mud Life, 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords, Modified Mustangs & Fords, Camaro Performers, GM High-Tech Performance, Import Tuner, and Honda Tuning. In addition to editorial staff, there were further layoffs in art and production staff that was later explained by VPs and executives as needed cuts to keep TEN on a sustainable path since losing the large distribution arm of its core business to reach the claimed audience in its dwindling circulation and online presence.{{cite web |last=Mickey |first=Bill |date=2014-05-30 |title=Source Interlink Media Rebrands, Closes 12 Titles New corporate identity: TEN: The Enthusiast Network |url=http://www.foliomag.com/2014/source-interlink-media-rebrands-closes-12-titles#.U8bAW_ldVnk |publisher=FolioMag}}{{cite web |date=2014-05-29 |title=Source Interlink Media Rebrands As TEN: The Enthusiast Network |url=http://business.transworld.net/150340/features/source-interlink-media-rebrands-ten-enthusiast-network/}}

In 2015, NBC Sports shuttered its action sports division, and sold the Dew Tour to TEN.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Ben |date=January 16, 2017 |title=New ownership gives Dew Tour some pop |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/01/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Dew-Tour.aspx |access-date=2018-04-20 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}} On August 17 of that same year, TEN launched its subscription video on demand service Motor Trend OnDemand, which was the first SVOD service aimed at automotive enthusiasts.{{cite web |url=https://www.motortrendgroup.com/ten-officially-launches-groundbreaking-motor-trend-ondemand-svod-service/ |title=TEN Officially Launches Groundbreaking Motor Trend OnDemand SVOD Service |website=www.motortrendgroup.com}} TEN CEO Scott Dickey described this community as "underserved and starved for premium video content" while positioning the SVOD service as "The Netflix for Gearheads."{{cite web |url=https://www.motortrendgroup.com/ten-officially-launches-groundbreaking-motor-trend-ondemand-svod-service/ |title=TEN Officially Launches Groundbreaking Motor Trend OnDemand SVOD Service - Motor Trend Group |website=www.motortrendgroup.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010337/https://www.motortrendgroup.com/ten-officially-launches-groundbreaking-motor-trend-ondemand-svod-service/ |archive-date=2018-07-10}}

In 2017, TEN sold the AMA EnduroCross Championship to the Bonnier Motorcycle Group.{{Cite web |title=Bonnier Motorcycle Group To Take Over Ownership of EnduroCross Series |url=https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/bonnier-motorcycle-group-to-take-over-ownership-endurocross-series/ |access-date=2020-09-09 |website=Cycle World |language=en}} TEN also sold Baseball America and Slam.{{Cite web |date=14 February 2017 |title=Baseball America Sold {{!}} SGB Online |url=https://sgbonline.com/baseball-america-sold/ |access-date=2019-03-14}}

On August 3, 2017, Discovery Communications announced it would acquire a majority stake in TEN, and contribute its automotive-oriented cable network Velocity into the company. The venture's goal is to create a larger, multi-platform presence for the company's brands, with a particular emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming products. On April 10, 2018, it was announced that the company had been renamed Motor Trend Group effective immediately, and that Velocity would be rebranded under the Motor Trend name later in the year.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/discovery-communications-partners-ten-network-auto-portfolio-1202141715/|title=Discovery Communications Partners With TEN Network For Auto Portfolio|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=August 3, 2017|work=Deadline|access-date=September 18, 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/discovery-rebrands-velocity-motor-trend-network-1202361557/|title=Discovery Rebrands Velocity As Motor Trend Network|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2018-04-10|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/discovery-motor-trend-network-scripps-food-network-hgtv-upfront-1202748812/|title=Discovery Rebrands Velocity as Motor Trend Network (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=2018-04-10|work=Variety|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/discovery-launches-motor-trend-demand-uk-amazon-channels-417159|title=Discovery Launches 'Motor Trend On Demand' in UK on Amazon Channels|work=Multichannel|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en-us}}

In March 2018, the company sold Sound & Vision and Stereophile, along with related magazines and websites, to AVTech Media Ltd.{{Cite web| title = AVTech Media Ltd (UK) Acquires Home Tech Network From Ten Publishing Media| work = Stereophile.com| access-date = 2018-07-08| date = 2018-03-22| url = https://www.stereophile.com/content/avtech-media-ltd-uk-acquires-home-tech-network-ten-publishing-media}} In February 2019, the company sold its adventure sports portfolio to American Media.{{Cite web| title = American Media Acquires TEN's Adventure Sports Magazines| work = Folio| access-date = 2019-03-14| date = 2019-02-05| url = https://www.foliomag.com/american-media-acquires-tens-adventure-sports-magazines/}} In December 2019, the company announced that 19 of the 22 magazines published by the company would be discontinued that month, including Automobile.{{Cite web |last=Gastelu |first=Gary |date=9 December 2019 |title=MotorTrend publisher TEN Publishing discontinuing 19 automotive magazines |url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/motortrend-discontinuing-19-automotive-magazines |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=Fox News}}

In December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery sold the Motor Trend Group and most of its assets to Hearst Communications. The sale included MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Roadkill and Automobile.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2024-12-12 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Sells MotorTrend Group to Hearst |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/warner-bros-discovery-sells-motortrend-hearst-1236247362/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Titles

= Publications and digital assets =

Hot Rod
Motor Trend

= Video on demand and broadcasting =

Motor Trend (cable channel)
Motor Trend FAST TV (FAST streaming channel)
Motor Trend VELOZ TV (Spanish-language FAST streaming channel)

The broadcasting and streaming services are retained by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Former titles

Motor Trend+ (subscription streaming service) - discontinued 2024, most subscribers transferred to Discovery+{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2024-02-23 |title=MotorTrend+ Streaming Service Will Shut Down, With Most Subscribers to Be Migrated to Discovery+ |url=https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/motortrend-plus-shutting-down-discovery-plus-1235921047/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Four Wheeler - ceased publication 2023
Roadkill - ceased publication as magazine 2018 and the web show will finish in 2025{{Cite news |date=2024-11-18 |title=Is Roadkill Canceled!? There’s Still Plenty on the Road Ahead |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/roadkill-canceled-motortrend-still-plenty-ahead/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241123074607/https://www.motortrend.com/news/roadkill-canceled-motortrend-still-plenty-ahead/ |archive-date=2024-11-23 |access-date=2024-12-18 |work=Motor Trend |language=en-US}}