Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation
Name	Meredith Corporation
Type	Public
Industry	Media
Fate	Acquired by IAC subsidiary Dotdash in 2021
Founded	1902
Founder	Edwin Thomas Meredith
Headquarters	Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Key people	Stephen Lacy; Andrew Anker; Tom Harty
Products	Magazines; Television broadcasting; Digital media; Consumer marketing
Revenue	$1.73 billion (2018)
Num employees	~6,700 (2018)

Meredith Corporation was an American media conglomerate and publishing company founded in the early 20th century and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. It built a portfolio spanning consumer magazines, local television stations, specialized digital properties, and marketing services, and it played a major role in lifestyle publishing and broadcast television. Over its history the company engaged in notable acquisitions and divestitures, partnered with national advertisers and broadcasters, and ultimately was acquired by an IAC subsidiary in 2021.

History

Meredith traces its origins to the founding by Edwin Thomas Meredith in 1902, who launched a magazine that later became central to the company's growth. Throughout the 20th century the company expanded via acquisitions and launches of periodicals and regional outlets, intersecting with prominent entities such as Time Inc., Hearst Communications, Condé Nast, Meredith's competitors (note: avoid linking company variants), and major advertisers like Procter & Gamble. In the postwar era Meredith diversified into broadcast with investments linked to the evolution of Nielsen ratings and the emergence of network affiliates for ABC (American Broadcasting Company), CBS Television Network, and NBC. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Meredith pursued strategic moves similar to those of Gannett Company, Tribune Publishing, GateHouse Media, and New Media Investment Group, culminating in major transactions with television groups such as Sinclair Broadcast Group and digital publishers like Allrecipes, Food & Wine (as brands), and other specialty sites. The company’s trajectory included leadership transitions and relocation of corporate assets in response to changing markets and consolidation trends evident in the 2010s media consolidation.

Business Operations

Meredith operated across print publishing, local television broadcasting, digital media, and marketing services. Its magazines positioned it within the same competitive space as Better Homes and Gardens (a Meredith brand), Family Circle, Woman's Day, and other lifestyle titles historically aligned with advertisers such as General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, and Kellogg Company. In broadcasting, Meredith owned and operated local stations that affiliated with the major networks ABC, NBC, and Fox Broadcasting Company, participating in retransmission consent negotiations with multichannel video programming distributors including Comcast Corporation and DirecTV (AT&T)-affiliated platforms. Its marketing services division worked with retailers and consumer packaged goods firms, leveraging data approaches similar to initiatives by Acxiom and Epsilon (marketing company). Across digital operations Meredith managed traffic and advertising partnerships with platforms such as Google and Facebook (Meta Platforms), and engaged in programmatic advertising partnerships with ad tech firms like The Trade Desk.

Publications and Media Properties

Meredith’s portfolio included established magazines and digital brands that placed it alongside legacy publishers such as Hearst, Condé Nast, Time Inc. and contemporary digital networks like BuzzFeed and HuffPost. Key titles under its stewardship comprised Better Homes and Gardens, People (magazine)-adjacent lifestyle brands, and specialty properties targeting homeowners, families, and food enthusiasts. The company also owned local television stations in markets across the United States, comparable to station groups such as Tegna Inc. and Nexstar Media Group. Meredith acquired and managed digital recipe and lifestyle platforms similar to Allrecipes and EatingWell, and licensed content relationships were maintained with broadcasters and print syndicates exemplified by partnerships akin to those between Scripps Networks Interactive and cable channels.

Corporate Governance and Leadership

Corporate governance at Meredith involved a board of directors and executive leadership that navigated transitions common to public companies listed on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and subject to regulations from agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Notable executives included long-tenured publishing and broadcasting officers who interfaced with industry groups including the Association of Magazine Media and the National Association of Broadcasters. Leadership decisions reflected strategic choices about mergers and divestitures similar to those executed by contemporaries like Lee Enterprises and McClatchy Company.

Financial Performance and Acquisitions

Meredith reported revenues and earnings reflective of the print-to-digital transition, with reported annual revenue near $1.7 billion in certain years and fluctuations tied to advertising markets dominated by companies such as Procter & Gamble and digital ad spend shifts toward Google and Facebook (Meta Platforms). Major transactions included acquisitions and sales of magazine titles and television stations, part of consolidation waves alongside deals by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group, and Tribune Media. The company’s disposition of assets prior to 2021 aimed to optimize core holdings and respond to investor pressures that mirrored outcomes in other media consolidations, ultimately preceding the acquisition by an IAC subsidiary.

Controversies and Legal Issues

Meredith faced industry-specific disputes over issues such as carriage negotiations with multichannel providers comparable to high-profile standoffs experienced by groups like Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media. Other legal and regulatory matters touched on copyright and licensing disputes, labor and employment claims paralleling cases in publishing with firms like Time Inc., and compliance with regulations administered by the Federal Communications Commission. Public controversies also included critiques from advocacy and trade groups over editorial decisions and advertiser relationships, echoing debates that involved entities such as Advertising Standards Authority-style organizations and journalism watchdogs.

Category:Publishing companies of the United States Category:Mass media companies established in 1902