Static Media
{{Short description|American internet company}}
{{Primary sources|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Static Media
| logo = Static-logo-trans.webp
| type = Private
| industry = Internet
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2012}}
| location_city = Indianapolis
| location_country = United States
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
}}
| products = Contextual advertising
| brands = {{Plainlist|
- Looper
- Nicki Swift
- Mashed
- The List
- /Film
- Glam.com
- Grunge
- SlashGear
- Health Digest
- Tasting Table
- SVG
- House Digest
- WrestlingInc
- Food Republic
- Explore
- Women
- Foodie
- Money Digest
- Outdoor Guide
- Chowhound
- Islands
- Hunker
- Cuteness
- Sciencing
- Jalopnik
}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Static Media Inc., the business name of 7Hops.com Inc.,{{cite web |title=Policies |work=/Film |date=11 July 2023 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711225103/https://www.grunge.com/policies/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |via=Internet Archive |quote=[note that the Static Media slate of websites changed, sometime between 11 July 2023's "... owned and operated by 7Hops.com Inc. (dba Static Media), a Delaware corporation" and 15 July 2023's (web.archive.org/web/20230715071117/https://www.healthdigest.com/policies/) "owned and operated by Static Media Inc., a Delaware corporation"]}} is an American internet company established in 2012, incorporated in Delaware, and based in Indianapolis. It operates ZergNet, a content recommendation business that promotes paid content across their network of brands.{{Cite news |last=Chapman |first=Lizette |title=ZergNet Scores $3.2 Million to Build 'Pinterest for Content' |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 5, 2014 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-15828 |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 12, 2024}}{{Cite journal |first=Ben |last=Fischer |title=Greycroft Partners places bet on ZergNet, a content recommendation firm that's not in advertising |journal=New York Business Journal |date=November 6, 2014 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/blog/techflash/2014/11/zergnet-gets-publishing-worlds-attention.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 12, 2024}} Most sites that the company owns use the same website model and design, sometimes dubbed "infinite scroll", whereby content is loaded continuously as the user scrolls down.{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Neusesser |title=Infinite Scrolling: When to Use It, When to Avoid It |publisher=Nielsen Norman Group |date=September 4, 2022 |url=https://www.nngroup.com/articles/infinite-scrolling-tips/ |access-date=August 9, 2024}} For example, scrolling down on the homepage loads more articles in perpetuity (until the user reaches the very first article written for the site). Scrolling down on individual articles also does not reach the page footer, instead loading a different, related article, so the user can continue reading content from the site indefinitely without needing to click a new link. This is also called "infinite-content pages" or "endless pages". The title of one of the brands, Looper, refers to this design.
ZergNet
Established around 2011,{{Cite news |first=Jeff |last=Swiatek |title=Hoosier cooks up Internet hit, with help of Mark Cuban |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=September 21, 2014 |orig-date=September 18, 2014 |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2014/09/21/hoosier-cooks-internet-hit-help-mark-cuban/15827153/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 12, 2024}} ZergNet's business model, being paid to place links in third-party online articles at the bottom of ZergNet pages, has been compared to the business model of Outbrain, Taboola, and others.{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Mic |title=How two gamers built a secret weapon to get huge Web traffic |website=TNW |date=June 24, 2015 |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/in-ur-base-grabbing-all-you-c0ntentz#gref |access-date=November 12, 2024}}
The company's investors include Mark Cuban and Greycroft Partners.{{Cite magazine |author=stigner |title=Q&A: Mark Cuban Talks Indy Startup ZergNet |magazine=Indianapolis Monthly |issue=October 2013 |url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/news-and-opinion/business/mark-cuban-talks-indy-startup-zergnet/ |access-date=November 12, 2024}}
Owned or associated websites
Static Media owns and promotes the following entertainment websites:{{Cite web|url=https://www.static.com/|title=Static Media|website=static.com|publisher=Static Media}}
- Chowhound – food history, recipes, and cooking tips
- Cuteness – pet information and tips
- Explore – travel news and tips
- /Film – film news and reviews
- Food Republic – food news, recipes, tips, and reviews
- Foodie – food news and cooking tips
- Glam.com – beauty, fashion, wellness, and women's lifestyle
- Grunge – history, entertainment, science, and sports
- Health Digest – health news
- House Digest – home improvement, decor, DIY, and tips
- Hunker – home improvement, cleaning, lifestyle, and decor
- Islands – travel news and tips
- Jalopnik – automotive news and opinion
- Looper – film, television, and video game news and reviews
- Mashed – food discussion
- Money Digest – finance
- Nicki Swift – celebrity gossip
- Outdoor Guide – outdoor living guides
- Sciencing – science, math, and technology
- SlashGear – personal technology and digital lifestyle trends
- SVG – video game news and discussion
- Tasting Table – food and recipes
- The Daily Meal – food and drinks
- The List – women's lifestyle
- The Takeout – food news and reviews
- Women.com – women's lifestyle
- Wrestling Inc – pro wrestling and combat sports
Company history
Looper was the first site acquired by Static Media, in 2015.{{cite web |title=About Looper |url=https://www.looper.com/about/ |website=Looper |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} Mashed, Nicki Swift, Grunge, and the List are original Static Media brands, and all four launched in 2016.{{cite web |title=About Mashed |url=https://www.mashed.com/about/ |website=Mashed |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Nicki Swift |url=https://www.nickiswift.com/about/ |website=Nicki Swift |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Grunge |url=https://www.grunge.com/about/ |website=Grunge |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About The List |url=https://www.thelist.com/about/ |website=The List |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} The next site Static Media added was SVG, an original brand, in 2017.{{cite web |title=About SVG |url=https://www.svg.com/about/ |website=SVG |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
SlashGear was launched in 2005 and was acquired by Static Media sometime after the company's debut, in 2015.{{cite web |title=About SlashGear |url=https://www.slashgear.com/about/ |website=SlashGear |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
Health Digest is a Static Media original site, and it debuted in the third quarter of 2020.{{cite web |title=About Health Digest |url=https://www.healthdigest.com/about/ |website=Health Digest |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} Alongside general health reporting, many of the brand's early articles covered the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Tasting Table was launched in 2008 and was acquired by Static Media in 2021, the same year as /Film, which began in 2005.{{cite web |title=About Tasting Table |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/about/ |website=Tasting Table |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Us – /Film |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/about/ |website=Slash Film |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} House Digest is one of the site's newer homegrown brands, launching as a Static original site in 2021.{{cite web |title=About House Digest |url=https://www.housedigest.com/about/ |website=House Digest |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
Wrestling Inc. is the second-oldest of Static Media's branded sites, founded in 1996. Wrestling Inc. and Glam, the latter of which was started in 2003, were both acquired in 2022.{{cite web |title=About Us – Wrestling Inc. |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/about/ |website=Wrestling Inc. |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Glam |url=https://www.glam.com/about/ |website=Glam |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} The Daily Meal launched in 2011 and was acquired by Static in 2022.{{cite web |title=About The Daily Meal |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/about/ |website=The Daily Meal |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
Explore, a travel-focused brand, launched as a Static Media original site in November 2022.{{cite web |title=About Explore |url=https://www.explore.com/about/ |website=Explore |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
Women.com is the oldest brand that Static Media owns, having been founded in 1995, but it wasn't acquired by Static until early 2023.{{cite web |title=About Women |url=https://www.women.com/about/ |website=Women.com |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}} Also acquired in 2023 is Food Republic, founded in 2010 but launched in 2011.{{cite web |title=About Food Republic |url=https://www.foodrepublic.com/about/ |website=Food Republic |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=July 21, 2023}}
In September 2023, Static Media launched another food site, Foodie, bringing its total food brands to four.{{cite web |title=About Foodie |url=https://www.foodie.com/about/ |website=Foodie |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=September 8, 2023}}
On October 3, 2023, Static Media launched its first financial journalism site, Money Digest.{{cite web |last1=Ngo |first1=Hope |title=How to Know If You're Part of a Pyramid Scheme |url=https://www.moneydigest.com/1410489/how-to-know-if-youre-part-of-a-pyramid-scheme/ |website=Money Digest |publisher=Static Media |access-date=October 18, 2023 |date=October 3, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Money Digest |url=https://www.moneydigest.com/about/ |website=Money Digest |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=October 18, 2023}}
On October 26, 2023, the company launched its second homegrown travel and outdoors brand, titled Outdoor Guide and focused on outdoor living, including camping, gear, travel, and wildlife.{{cite web |last1=Chandler |first1=Nancy |title=The Most Dangerous Time of Year to Swim in the Atlantic Ocean |url=https://www.outdoorguide.com/1430393/most-dangerous-time-year-swim-atlantic-ocean/ |website=Outdoor Guide |date=October 26, 2023 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=November 10, 2023}}{{cite web |title=About Outdoor Guide |url=https://www.outdoorguide.com/about/ |website=Outdoor Guide |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=Static Media |access-date=November 10, 2023}} The company followed this several days later with the relaunch of Chowhound, in early November 2023; the site was originally founded in 1997 and had been shut down in 2022.{{cite press release |title=Static Media Revives Chowhound, Launches Three Additional Brands in Q4 – Foodie, Money Digest, and Outdoor Guide |publisher=Static Media Inc. |date=November 13, 2023 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/static-media-revives-chowhound-launches-three-additional-brands-in-q4--foodie-money-digest-and-outdoor-guide-301989330.html |access-date=November 12, 2024 |via=PR Newswire}}
In early 2024, the company launched its third travel and outdoor brand, titled Islands and more focused on exotic destinations, cruises, and travel than Outdoor Guide. The print publication of Islands had been around since 1981, owned by Bonnier LLC alongside Outdoor Life, Popular Science, Marlin, and Salt Water Sportsman. The website was originally launched in 2000. Though the print publication shuttered in 2014 and the publication shifted exclusively to digital, the site continued operating through the pandemic, growing to include its own Islands-brand "All-Inclusive Awards"{{cite web |title=Islands All-Inclusive Awards |url=https://www.islands.com/all-inclusive-awards/ |website=Islands |access-date=February 20, 2024}} for resorts. These annual awards ran in 2019 and 2020 and recognized resorts that had the best food, bar, rooms, pool, overwater bungalow, spa, butler service, and amenities, among other categories. The award system was not brought back in 2021, and it has not returned to the brand under Static Media's purview, either. Editor Allaya Cooks-Campbell, who previously worked at Health Digest, was appointed lead editor of Islands and Explore in 2023 and led Islands through its acquisition and relaunch under Static ownership.{{cite web |title=Allaya Cooks-Campbell |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/allaya-cooks-campbell/ |website=LinkedIn |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |access-date=August 12, 2024}}
In 2024, Static Media acquired its sixth food brand, The Takeout, which originally launched in 2016.{{cite web |title=About The Takeout |url=https://www.thetakeout.com/about/ |website=The Takeout |date=April 7, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2024}} Later that year, the company acquired Jalopnik, an automotive blog that was a sister site to the Takeout.{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Kerry |title=G/O Media agrees to sell car culture site Jalopnik |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/media-deals/2024/10/21/jalopnik-cars-acquisition-static |access-date=October 29, 2024 |publisher=Axios |date=October 21, 2024}}
In October 2024, Static Media announced Hunker, a home brand it had acquired that same year, with a focus on cleaning, home improvement, garden, and lifestyle reporting. The same month, Static launched Cuteness, a website geared toward pet owners, which it had also purchased that year.{{cite web |title=About Us – Cuteness |url=https://www.cuteness.com/about/ |website=Cuteness |publisher=Static Media |access-date=November 10, 2024}}
On November 3, 2024, the company officially launched Sciencing, its first site oriented around science, math, and technology, which had been operating since 2006.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Joe |title=The Real-Life Tomb Discovered Under an Indiana Jones Filming Location |url=https://www.sciencing.com/1703620/real-life-tomb-discovered-indiana-jones-filming-location/ |website=Sciencing |publisher=Static Media |access-date=November 10, 2024 |date=November 3, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
Category:Mass media companies established in 2012
Category:Technology companies established in 2012
Category:American companies established in 2012
Category:Contextual advertising
Category:Online advertising methods
Category:Online advertising services and affiliate networks
Category:Companies based in Indianapolis