New York Media purchases comedy site Splitsider, adds to Vulture stable
New York Media, publisher of New York Magazine, as well as sister imprints Vulture, and the Cut, announced that it has acquired Splitsider, the website about comedy and its creators, from the Awl Network.
Comedy site Splitsider has been purchased by New York Media as part of its culture site Vulture / New York Media
New York Media said it will be integrated into culture site Vulture as a destination for comedy coverage.
The Awl, which was home to Splitsider as well as sister sites The Hairpin, The Sweethome, and The Billfold, folded earlier this year.
In a statement, New York Media said: “Splitsider will accelerate a major comedy push at Vulture, with written and video content, live events, podcasts, and brand partnerships, with an expected launch in May to coincide with the 2018 Vulture Festival in New York City.”
“Splitsider is a treasured, must-read site among comedians and comedy fans,” said New York Media CEO Pam Wasserstein. “I’m thrilled to have it join Vulture, where the combination will create the leading source for all things comedy.”
"I'm a longtime reader and admirer of New York Magazine and Vulture, so I couldn't be more excited for it to become the new home of Splitsider,” said Splitsider founder Adam Frucci. “I'm confident that with their vision and resources it will be cemented as a beautiful comedic oasis in the desiccated husk of the internet Mark Zuckerberg has left us all with."
Vulture has had a long history in the comedy scene, and has had comedic veterans such as Chris Gethard, Julie Klausner, Lisa Lampanelli, Phoebe Robinson, and Paul F. Tompkins contribute and will further develop those collaborations as it expands comedy coverage. Splitsider’s editor, Megh Wright, will join Vulture with the acquisition, forming the basis of a new comedy department with senior editor Jesse David Fox.
New York Media’s editor-in-chief Adam Moss added: “We long had designs on comedy becoming as important to Vulture as TV and movies are. The acquisition of Splitsider helps us do it faster and roots our coverage in the beloved home for comedy fanatics.”