{{Short description|American sports blogging website}} {{distinguish|SportsNation (website)}} {{redirect|CageSide Seats|the type of seating|Ringside (boxing)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2018}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox website | name = ''SB Nation'' | logo = SB Nation logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | screenshot = SB Nation Screenshot.PNG | collapsible = y | collapsetext = Screenshot | background = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | caption = ''SB Nation'' homepage | url = {{URL|https://sbnation.com/}} | areas = | traded to date = | commercial = Yes | type = Sports news | registration = Optional (required for comments/posting) | language = English | num_users = | content_license = | programming_language = | owner = Vox Media | author = | editor = | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2003|df=yes}} | revenue = | ip = | issn = <!-- ISSN, e.g. 1085-6706 (automatically linked to http://www.worldcat.org) --> | oclc = <!-- OCLC number, useful where an ISSN has not been allocated (automatically linked to http://www.worldcat.org) --> | current_status = Active | footnotes = }} '''''SB Nation''''' (full name '''''SportsBlogs Nation''''') is a sports blogging network owned by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Tyler Blezinski, Markos Moulitsas, and Jerome Armstrong in 2003. The blog from which the network formed was started by Bleszinski as ''Athletics Nation'' in 2003, and focused solely on the Oakland Athletics. It later expanded to cover sports franchises on a national scale, including all Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, and National Football League teams, as well as college teams, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, and more, totaling over 300 community sites at its peak. The coverage style of SB Nation’s communities has an emphasis on covering sports from the perspective of fans.
In 2011, the network expanded into technology content with ''The Verge'', leading to the parent company Sports Blogs Inc. being rebranded as Vox Media. ''SB Nation'' operates from Vox Media's offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.
== Corporate affairs and business model == From 2003 to 2011, the sports blog network ''SB Nation'' (originally known as ''SportsBlogs Nation'') operated under the parent company SportsBlogs Inc., which was headquartered in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Dubois">{{cite journal |last1=Dubois |first1=Lou |title=The Evolution of Sports Blog Nation |journal=Inc. |date=August 20, 2010 |url=https://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/08/interview-with-jim-bankoff-ceo-of-sbnation.html |access-date=March 20, 2018 |issn=0162-8968}}</ref><ref name="Swisher">{{cite web |last1=Swisher |first1=Kara |author-link=Kara Swisher |title=SB Nation Sacks AOL in Raid of Former Engadget Team for Competing New Tech Site, As AOL Zeroes in on New EiC |url=http://allthingsd.com/20110403/sb-nation-sacks-aol-in-raid-of-former-engadget-team-for-competing-new-tech-site/ |website=All Things Digital |access-date=March 21, 2018 |date=April 3, 2011 |archive-date=May 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505070416/http://allthingsd.com/20110403/sb-nation-sacks-aol-in-raid-of-former-engadget-team-for-competing-new-tech-site/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since Sports Blogs was rebranded as Vox Media, the network has also operated from the digital media company's offices in Manhattan.<ref name="Orlando">{{cite journal |last1=Orlando |first1=Dan |title=What's the future of the sports-blogging industry? Here are 3 different answers from rival contenders |journal=New York Business Journal |date=July 12, 2013 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2013/07/11/3-companies-with-nyc-ties-that-have.html?page=all |access-date=March 20, 2018 |publisher=American City Business Journals |archive-date=August 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808063920/http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2013/07/11/3-companies-with-nyc-ties-that-have.html?page=all |url-status=live }}</ref> Vox Media's chief executive officer, Jim Bankoff, has served as ''SB Nation''{{'s}} CEO since 2009.<ref name="Lincoln2">{{cite news |last1=Lincoln |first1=Kevin |date=January 9, 2012 |title=The Raid on AOL: How Vox Pillaged Engadget and Founded an Empire |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/vox-2012-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513141636/http://www.businessinsider.com/vox-2012-1 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |work=Business Insider |publisher=Axel Springer SE}}</ref>
SB Nation's community sites cover specific sports, individual teams, or college athletics programs. They are staffed by a combination of full-time employees and part-time contractors paid through monthly stipends or unpaid.<ref name="Overly">{{cite news |last1=Overly |first1=Steven |date=December 20, 2010 |title=SB Nation's sports blogger collective sees bias as a plus |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706202.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230231159/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706202.html |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}}</ref><ref name="Dubois" /> These contributors cover game previews and recaps, analysis, breaking news, and more. Some have even produced regular podcast episodes. The sites encourage their readers to contribute to discussions on the sites.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Plambeck |first=Joseph |date=June 6, 2010 |title=Sports-Centric Web Sites Expand, and Bias Is Welcome |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/business/media/07fans.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219132647/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/business/media/07fans.html |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The network generates revenue through advertising.<ref name="Overly2">{{cite news |last1=Overly |first1=Steven |date=December 20, 2010 |title=SB Nation's sports blogger collective sees bias as a plus |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706202.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230231159/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706202.html |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}}</ref>
== History == ===Founding and growth=== ''SB Nation'' was co-founded by friends Tyler Bleszinski and Markos Moulitsas in 2003. The single blog from which the network formed was launched by Bleszinski as ''Athletics Nation'' in July 2003, and covered only the Oakland Athletics baseball team.<ref name="Orlando" /> ''Athletics Nation'' quickly became Blogads's second largest website, following Daily Kos, where Moulitsas served as an editor.<ref name="Lincoln">{{cite news |last1=Lincoln |first1=Kevin |date=January 9, 2012 |title=The Raid on AOL: How Vox Pillaged Engadget and Founded an Empire |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/vox-2012-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513141636/http://www.businessinsider.com/vox-2012-1 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |work=Business Insider |publisher=Axel Springer SE}}</ref> Following the blog network's creation, six additional writers were hired to join Bleszinski in creating content, and Daily Kos' platform was implemented to encourage online community growth.<ref name="Lincoln" /> Established bloggers were selected to contribute articles, and sports fans could leave comments. After sites were created for all Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and National Hockey League (NHL) franchises, along with some college and other teams, Bleszinski focused on company growth and making money.<ref name="Lincoln" />
In 2008, ''SB Nation'' raised $5 million in a Series A round of financing with Accel Partners, Allen & Company, and Ted Leonsis contributing.<ref name="Schonfeld">{{cite web |last1=Schonfeld |first1=Erick |title=SB Nation Scores a Link Deal with the NHL |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/04/13/sb-nation-scores-a-link-deal-with-the-nhl/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=March 21, 2018 |date=April 13, 2009}}</ref> Jim Bankoff, who was advising the company during the venture round, became ''SB Nation''{{'s}} CEO in January 2009.<ref name="Dubois" /><ref name="Lincoln" /> The network had approximately 1 million unique users, 5 million unique users, and nearly 185 blogs by February.<ref name="Schonfeld"/><ref name="Overly" /> The NHL sanctioned and began linking to ''SB Nation'' content on its official website in April, when the network was averaging 5 million unique monthly visitors across nearly 200 sites.<ref name="Schonfeld" /> In July, Comcast's venture capital branch, Comcast Interactive Capital, spearheaded a nearly $8 million second round of financing.<ref name="Lincoln" /><ref name="Key">{{cite journal |last1=Key |first1=Peter |title=Comcast SportsNet content sharing with SB Nation |journal=Philadelphia Business Journal |date=June 28, 2010 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blogs/technology/2010/06/comcast_sportsnet_content_sharing_with_sb_nation.html |access-date=March 20, 2018 |publisher=American City Business Journals |issn=0744-3587}}</ref> In September 2009, ''SB Nation'' was re-launched to serve as a nationally focused portal for the network's blogs.<ref name="Lincoln" /> Revenue generated by the network increased by four times in 2009.<ref name="Dubois" />
In 2010, the network launched 20 regional sites, bringing the total number of sites to nearly 275. ''SB Nation'' had 31 full-time employees and was receiving 40 million monthly page views by approximately 8 million unique users, as of mid 2010.<ref name="Dubois" /> Comcast SportsNet and ''SB Nation'' agreed to a content sharing partnership in shared markets in June 2010.<ref name="Key" /> In July 2010, SB Nation announced it had acquired The Sporting Blog from ''Sporting News'' and would merge it with its main website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=papiblez |date=2010-07-22 |title=SB Nation Acquires The Sporting Blog |url=https://blog.sbnation.com/2010/7/22/1582151/sb-nation-acquires-the-sporting |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Blog Huddle |language=en|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100730230622/https://blog.sbnation.com/2010/7/22/1582151/sb-nation-acquires-the-sporting|archive-date=2010-07-30}}</ref> In November, Khosla Ventures led a third round of funding for ''SB Nation,''<ref name="Swisher" /> bringing the company's total funding to approximately $23 million.<ref name="Overly" />
''SB Nation'' acquired the blog networks FanTake and The Offside in March 2011, expanding its coverage of college sports and soccer, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=David |title=SB Nation Buys Two Sites; Expands College Sports, Global Soccer Coverage |url=https://gigaom.com/2011/03/03/419-sb-nation-buys-two-sites-expands-college-sports-global-soccer-coverage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226225016/http://gigaom.com/2011/03/03/419-sb-nation-buys-two-sites-expands-college-sports-global-soccer-coverage/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |website=Gigaom |access-date=March 3, 2018 |date=March 3, 2011}}</ref> The network hired several Engadget employees to launch its first major expansion outside sports.<ref name="Swisher" /><ref name="Lincoln" />
===Formation of Vox Media=== ''SB Nation''{{'s}} parent company, SportsBlogs Inc., rebranded as Vox Media in October 2011 and ''The Verge'' launched in November 2011.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news | url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2011/11/this-is-their-next-vox-media-becomes-the-new-parent-company-to-sb-nation-and-the-verge/ | title=This is their next: Vox Media becomes the new parent company to SB Nation and The Verge | first=Justin | last=Ellis | work=Nieman Foundation for Journalism | date=November 1, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Lincoln" /><ref name="Swisher" /> In late 2011, MMAFighting.com was integrated into SB Nation after Vox Media acquired the mixed martial arts site from AOL.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michael David |title=MMA Fighting Sold to Vox Media |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/11/07/mma-fighting-sold-to-vox-media |website=MMA Fighting |access-date=March 21, 2018 |date=November 7, 2011}}</ref> MMA Fighting produces ''The MMA Hour'' and ''The MMA Beat'', which continue to stream on ''SB Nation'' and social media outlets, as of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patel |first1=Sahil |title=How Vox Media's SB Nation is getting people to watch its MMA videos |url=https://digiday.com/media/voxs-sb-nation-is-getting-people-to-watch-its-mma-videos/ |website=Digiday |access-date=March 21, 2018 |date=August 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cohen |first1=David |title=Twitter Enters the Octagon With SB Nation's The MMA Hour |journal=Adweek |date=June 21, 2017 |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/twitter-livestream-vox-media-sb-nation-the-mma-hour/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |publisher=Beringer Capital |issn=0199-2864}}</ref>
In September 2012, ''SB Nation'' introduced a major redesign codenamed "SB United", which introduced a new "magazine-style" layout with a larger focus on long-form content and digital media, and redesigned logos for each of the network's approximately 300 blogs. The redesign was overseen by Spencer Hall, the site's first editorial director.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Warzel |first1=Charlie |title=SB Nation Relaunches, Hires First Editorial Director |journal=Adweek |date=September 25, 2012 |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/sb-nation-relaunches-hires-first-editorial-director-143967/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205233629/http://www.adweek.com/digital/sb-nation-relaunches-hires-first-editorial-director-143967/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The LGBT sports website ''Outsports'' was acquired by Vox Media and integrated into ''SB Nation'' in March 2013.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Garcia |first1=Michelle |title=Outsports Acquired By Mainstream Sports News Company SB Nation |journal=The Advocate |date=March 5, 2013 |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2013/03/05/outsports-acquired-mainstream-sports-news-company-sb-nation |access-date=March 27, 2018 |publisher=Here Media |issn=0001-8996}}</ref> The site's founders retained editorial control, and the purchase marked the first time a major sports media company acquired an LGBT-focused website.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Keeffe |first1=Michael |title=Outsports.com, which covers the gay athletes, bought by SB Nation parent company Vox Media |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/sb-nation-parent-company-vox-media-buys-gay-oriented-sports-site-article-1.1280432 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |work=New York Daily News |publisher=Tronc |date=March 5, 2013 |oclc=9541172}}</ref> ''SB Nation'' was averaging approximately 50 million unique visitors by mid 2013,<ref name="Orlando" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Orlando |first1=Dan |title=Vox Media says design helps charge SB Nation |journal=New York Business Journal |date=June 19, 2013 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2013/06/17/vox-media-credits-new-interface-with.html |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828143706/https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2013/06/17/vox-media-credits-new-interface-with.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and had approximately 800 contributing bloggers by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rondon |first1=Michael |title=Controlling Contributor Networks: Contributor Networks Are a Great Way to Generate Traffic and Inventory, but They All Hinge on One Assumption |journal=Folio |date=December 1, 2013 |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-355307807.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215931/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-355307807.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2018 |url-access= }}</ref> Bleszinski left the company at the end of 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutton |first=Kelsey |date=2015-12-14 |title=Tyler Bleszinski, co-founder of SB Nation, to leave Vox Media |url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2015/12/tyler-bleszinski-co-founder-of-sb-nation-to-leave-vox-media-004319/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=POLITICO Media |language=en}}</ref>
=== Holtzclaw controversy === In February 2016, the site published a lengthy profile of Daniel Holtzclaw, a former police officer convicted of multiple accounts of rape and other charges, focusing on his college football career. The piece, which was seen as sympathetic to Holtzclaw, was heavily criticized and was taken down within hours of publication. ''SB Nation''{{'s}} editorial director Spencer Hall apologized for "a complete breakdown" of ''SB Nation''{{'s}} editorial process, and described the story and its publication as a "complete failure" of site standards.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonesteel |first1=Matt |date=February 18, 2016 |title=SB Nation is right: Its story about a convicted rapist was a 'complete failure' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/02/18/sb-nation-is-right-its-story-about-a-convicted-rapist-was-a-complete-failure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211836/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/02/18/sb-nation-is-right-its-story-about-a-convicted-rapist-was-a-complete-failure/ |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=February 19, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Victor |first1=Daniel |date=February 18, 2016 |title=SB Nation Removes Article Criticized as Sympathetic to Convicted Rapist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/business/media/sb-nation-daniel-holtzclaw.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211826/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/business/media/sb-nation-daniel-holtzclaw.html |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=February 19, 2016 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Benjamin F |date=February 18, 2016 |title=SB Nation publishes, takes down "failure" of story about Holtzclaw |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/02/18/sb-nation-publishes-takes-down-failure-story-holtzclaw/80553936/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211832/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/02/18/sb-nation-publishes-takes-down-failure-story-holtzclaw/80553936/ |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=February 19, 2016 |work=USA Today}}</ref> ''SB Nation'' subsequently cut ties with the story's author, freelance journalist Jeff Arnold, and put its longform program on hiatus pending a peer review of the editorial process that led to the Holtzclaw piece being published.<ref>{{cite news |last=Howard |first=Greg |date=February 19, 2016 |title=SB Nation Memo Announces Hiatus For Longform Program |url=http://deadspin.com/sb-nation-memo-announces-hiatus-for-longform-program-1760143895 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211827/https://deadspin.com/sb-nation-memo-announces-hiatus-for-longform-program-1760143895/ |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=February 20, 2016 |publisher=Deadspin}}</ref> The head of the longform program, veteran sportswriter Glenn Stout, was suspended and later fired.<ref>{{cite news |last=Howard |first=Greg |date=February 26, 2016 |title=How SB Nation Published Their Daniel Holtzclaw Story |url=http://deadspin.com/how-sb-nation-published-their-daniel-holtzclaw-story-1761030353 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211828/https://deadspin.com/how-sb-nation-published-their-daniel-holtzclaw-story-1761030353/ |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |publisher=Deadspin}}</ref>
In May 2016, Vox Media published the results of the peer review. It found that the longform program was isolated from the rest of ''SB Nation'' in a way that made it impossible for stories to be properly vetted. It also harshly criticized ''SB Nation'' for not giving individual editors the authority to review stories about sensitive topics. At the time, sensitive stories were reviewed by the newsroom's two most senior women, senior editor Elena Bergeron and senior content producer Sarah Kogod. The reviewers found that this practice made it appear that an individual editor did not have the responsibility to "care to the fullest extent about matters of ethics, integrity, and accuracy." It also raised concerns about the lack of diversity in the newsroom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peer review of Holtzclaw story |url=https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6553831/Peer_Review_Final.0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211825/https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6553831/Peer_Review_Final.0.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref> Based on the review, ''SB Nation'' permanently shelved the longform program, replacing it with a features program. ''SB Nation'' also announced it would take steps to diversify its newsroom. In a statement, ''SB Nation'' said that the Holtzclaw situation revealed that "an organization cannot afford to wait to be diverse, particularly if that organization is one that wants to tell stories."<ref>{{cite web |date=May 26, 2016 |title=A note from SB Nation leadership |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11790170/a-note-from-sb-nation-leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628211828/https://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11790170/a-note-from-sb-nation-leadership |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |publisher=SB Nation}}</ref>
===Partnership with the Ringer === In May 2017, the sports and culture website ''The Ringer'' transferred its publishing platform from Medium to Vox Media's Chorus platform. The site's founder, Bill Simmons, retained ownership and editorial control.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boren |first1=Cindy |date=May 30, 2017 |title=What Bill Simmons's move of The Ringer to Vox Media means |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/30/what-bill-simmonss-move-of-the-ringer-to-vox-media-means/ |access-date=March 27, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grinapol |first1=Corinne |date=May 30, 2017 |title=The Ringer Is Switching Up Platforms |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/the-ringer-is-switching-up-platforms/ |journal=Adweek |access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> ''The Ringer''{{'s}} parent company, Bill Simmons Media Group, and Vox Media agreed to share revenue generated by advertisements sold by Vox Media.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jarvey |first1=Natalie |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Bill Simmons' The Ringer to Move from Medium to Vox Media's Publishing Platform |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-simmons-ringer-move-medium-vox-medias-publishing-platform-1008408 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shields |first1=Mike |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Why Vox may be able to revive The Ringer, even though its traffic has plummeted |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/one-reason-the-ringer-may-be-ditching-medium-for-vox-is-that-traffic-was-slipping-2017-5 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |work=Business Insider}}</ref> Vox Media began sharing audience traffic between ''SB Nation'' and ''The Ringer''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Eric |date=June 1, 2017 |title=The Ringer and Bill Simmons get a second chance with Vox |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/01/the-ringer-and-bill-simmons-get-a-second-chance-with-vox.html |access-date=March 27, 2018 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref> In August, the site underwent a revamp to match other SB Nation websites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Putterman |first=Alex |date=2017-08-08 |title=The Ringer pulls off Vox-supported re-launch, now looks a lot like SB Nation |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/ringer/ringer-pulls-off-vox-supported-re-launch-looks-lot-like-sb-nation-now.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
''The Ringer'', and its podcast network, were purchased by Spotify in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2020-02-12 |title=Spotify Is Paying Up to $196 Million in Cash to Acquire Bill Simmons’ The Ringer |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/spotify-acquires-the-ringer-196-million-cash-bill-simmons-1203502471/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Accusations of exploitation === In the wake of the Holtzclaw controversy, Elena Bergeron was named ''SB Nation''{{'s}} first editor-in-chief in March 2017.<ref name="Bergeron">{{cite journal |last1=Fisher |first1=Eric |date=June 9, 2017 |title=SB Nation Editor-in-Chief Elena Bergeron aims to deliver what sports fans want |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2017/06/09/sb-nation-editor-in-chief-elena-bergeron.html |journal=New York Business Journal |access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=2017-03-03 |title=SB Nation names first editor in chief in push for growth |url=https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2017/sb-nation-names-first-editor-in-chief-in-push-for-growth/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Poynter |language=en-US}}</ref> In August, Deadspin published a report detailing SB Nation's reliance on underpaid and unpaid labor from site managers and contributors. Bergeron was quoted in the story, stating that it was "company policy that everybody who contributes for a Vox Media property gets paid." Several site managers who were interviewed for the same story were not aware of this policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Laura |date=August 14, 2017 |title=How SB Nation Profits Off An Army Of Exploited Workers |url=https://deadspin.com/how-sb-nation-profits-off-an-army-of-exploited-workers-1797653841/#_ga=2.113959044.2045952640.1526415808-786783585.1516821911 |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=deadspin.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2017-08-14 |title=SB Nation contracts, site managers go against execs' assertion all contributors are paid |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sb-nation-contracts-managers-go-against-execs-assertion-all-contributors-are-paid.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
In September 2017, a former site manager filed a collective action lawsuit against Vox Media contending that they were a misclassified employee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Laura |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Former SB Nation Site Manager Files Lawsuit Against Vox Media For Alleged Labor Law Violations |url=https://deadspin.com/former-sb-nation-site-manager-files-lawsuit-against-vox-1798715721/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=deadspin.com |language=en}}</ref> Three separate lawsuits were eventually condensed into one. The company ultimately agreed to pay $4 million to 450 writers and site managers to settle the case in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Keith J. |date=2020-08-19 |title=Vox Media agrees to $4M settlement with SB Nation writers |url=https://nypost.com/2020/08/19/vox-media-agrees-to-4m-settlement-with-sb-nation-writers/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
Nine months after the initial Deadspin report, SB Nation had hired additional staff to provide greater support to team sites, increased the budgets for some sites, converted several part-time employees to full-time status, and added greater restrictions on the use of unpaid contributors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Laura |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Deadspin {{!}} SB Nation Is Still Exploiting Workers, But In A Kinder, Gentler Way |url=https://deadspin.com/sb-nation-is-still-exploiting-workers-but-in-a-kinder-1825928891/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=deadspin.com |language=en}}</ref>
In November 2017, Vox Media staff announced it was forming a labor union in association with Writers Guild of America, East. Though full-time SB Nation staff members were included, part-time bloggers and site managers were not.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Putterman |first=Alex |date=2017-11-17 |title=Vox Media staff, including SB Nation writers, announce plans to unionize |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/vox-staff-including-sb-nation-writers-unionize.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> Vox Media Union ratified its first contract in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2019-06-14 |title=Vox Media Staff Ratifies First Union Contract, Negotiated by Writers Guild |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/vox-media-contract-writers-guild-1203243466/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Layoffs and site closures===
In February 2018, Vox Media laid off 50 employees, including some members of the ''SB Nation'' social video team. A number of part-time copy editors and news writers were also cut.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Vox Media Lays Off 50 Staffers, or 5% of Workforce |journal=Variety |date=February 21, 2018 |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/vox-media-layoffs-50-employees-1202706362/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314104411/http://variety.com/2018/digital/news/vox-media-layoffs-50-employees-1202706362/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Laura |date=February 22, 2018 |title=SB Nation Laid Off Their Copy Editors |url=https://deadspin.com/sb-nation-laid-off-their-copy-editors-1823247683/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=deadspin.com |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2019, it was announced that Bergeron would step down from her role as editor-in-chief, remaining until a replacement was hired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paez-Pumar |first=Luis |date=February 27, 2019 |title=SB Nation Editor-In-Chief Elena Bergeron Stepping Down |url=https://deadspin.com/sb-nation-editor-in-chief-elena-bergeron-stepping-down-1832942190/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=deadspin.com |language=en}}</ref> In July, Vox announced it would hire a senior vice president to oversee SB Nation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2019-07-18 |title=Vox Media Elevates Editorial Leadership |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/about-vox-media/2019/7/18/20699314/vox-media-promotions-eater-curbed-sb-nation-verge-polygon-recode |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref> It wasn't until 16 months later, in October 2020, that the company finally promoted Jermaine Spradley to SVP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2020-10-09 |title=16 months after saying SB Nation would be led by a SVP, Vox has finally named that SVP |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sb-nation-svp-jermaine-spradley-vox.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2019, after closing its national college football blog ''Every Day Should Be Saturday'' (which joined the platform in 2010 after originally being established in 2005 as an independent website), ''SB Nation'' announced a new college football vertical known as ''Banner Society'', which will aim to " keep expanding, warping, and sharpening the conversation around college football in all its bizarre, corrupt, colorful elements", and "find new and different ways to connect with our audience directly, all over the internet".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sb-nation-banner-society-college-football.html|title=SB Nation unveils new "Banner Society" multiplatform CFB brand|date=2019-08-01|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/every-day-should-be-saturday-shuts-down.html|title=Every Day Should Be Saturday shuts down after over a decade|date=2019-08-01|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-01}}</ref> In September, SB Nation launched DK Network, a dedicated sports gambling website in conjunction with DraftKings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macedo |first=Nicole |date=September 5, 2019 |title=DraftKings signs media partnership with Vox Media |url=https://www.egr.global/northamerica/news/draftkings-signs-media-partnership-with-vox-media/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=EGR North America}}</ref>
In December 2019, Vox Media announced that in order to comply with California Assembly Bill 5, ''SB Nation'' would "end our contracts with most contractors at California brands" over the coming months, and transfer their roles to a new group of employees. The company stated that this would be an extension of investments that have seen more full-time employees working for the network's largest sites, and that former contractors would be able to contribute as unpaid "community insiders".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/business/media/vox-media-california-job-cuts.html|title=Vox Media to Cut 200 Freelancers, Citing California Gig-Worker Law|last1=Tracy|first1=Marc|date=2019-12-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-17|last2=Draper|first2=Kevin|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227180243/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/business/media/vox-media-california-job-cuts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On April 17, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vox Media announced it would furlough 9% of its workforce starting May 1, 2020, including ''SB Nation.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/17/837474747/popular-blog-sb-nation-furloughs-writers-with-few-sports-to-cover-during-coronav|title=Popular Blog SB Nation Furloughs Writers With Few Sports to Cover During Coronavirus|website=NPR.org|date=April 17, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17|last1=Horn|first1=Austin|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417212201/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/17/837474747/popular-blog-sb-nation-furloughs-writers-with-few-sports-to-cover-during-coronav|url-status=live}}</ref> By June, a number of writers and editors from Banner Society left the company through buyouts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2020-06-05 |title=Many furloughed writers and editors have now left Vox's SB Nation and Banner Society for good |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/furloughed-people-vox-sb-nation-banner-society.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In July, the company laid off 6% of the company, including many of those who had already been furloughed. An internal memo mentioned that Vox was only bringing back 30% of its furloughed workers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2020-07-16 |title=Vox Media's layoffs deal further blows to SB Nation |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/vox-media-cuts-further-blows-sb-nation.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2022, the company shut down a number of sites focused on college sports.
In January 2023, Vox announced another round of layoffs, affecting 7% of its staff. The cuts hit ''SB Nation'' hard, with a majority of the company's hockey and soccer sites becoming unaffiliated or being shut down completely.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2023-01-20 |title=Vox lays off seven percent of staff, closes many SB Nation sites |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/vox-layoffs-sb-nation-site-closures.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Laura |date=2023-01-20 |title=Vox Media Layoffs Wipe Out Most SB Nation Hockey, MLS Sites |url=https://defector.com/vox-media-layoffs-wipe-out-most-sb-nation-hockey-mls-sites |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=defector.com |language=en}}</ref> Women's ice hockey site The Ice Garden became an independent site with more financial backing than ''SB Nation'' had been providing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cash |first=Meredith |title=After Vox Media cuts created 'huge crisis' at SB Nation, a new alliance is now further consolidating women's pro sports coverage |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/womens-sports-media-partnership-next-ice-garden-sparked-by-crisis-2023-3 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> MMA site Bloody Elbow was sold to its original founder in March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-05 |title=Bloody Elbow MMA site sold, staff laid off, many writers' archives deleted |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mma/bloody-elbow-sold-archives-deleted.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In April, Sacramento Kings site Sactown Royalty was sold off to its original founder and Chicago Bulls site BlogABull moved to Substack in April. By August, Sounder at Heart, one of only two soccer sites to remain, left ''SB Nation'' and transitioned to a reader-supported model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keeley |first=Sean |date=2023-08-28 |title=Sounder at Heart latest SB Nation site to go independent |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sounder-at-heart-sb-nation-site-independent-reign.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
Despite these cuts, ''SB Nation'' also expanded. It launched a new golf website in May<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2023-08-29 |title=Vox Media’s SB Nation Launches Two Paid Newsletters Ahead of NFL Kickoff |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2023/8/29/23849740/vox-medias-sb-nation-launches-two-paid-newsletters-ahead-of-nfl-kickoff |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref> and its first paid newsletters, focusing on the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs in August.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2023-08-29 |title=Vox Media’s SB Nation Launches Two Paid Newsletters Ahead of NFL Kickoff |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2023/8/29/23849740/vox-medias-sb-nation-launches-two-paid-newsletters-ahead-of-nfl-kickoff |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref>
Spradley, who had been serving as publisher since March 2022, left the company in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-24 |title=SB Nation publisher Jermaine Spradley is leaving, replacement unclear |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sb-nation-publisher-jermaine-spradley-is-leaving-replacement-unclear.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In March, Vox Media divested ''Outsports'' to LGBT-oriented publisher Q Digital, with the site's co-founders receiving an equity stake in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guaglione |first=Sara |date=2024-03-18 |title=Vox Media offloads Outsports to Q.Digital |url=https://digiday.com/media/vox-media-offloads-outsports-to-q-digital/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Digiday |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2024, Vox Media shut down the website's podcast network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keeley |first=Sean |date=2024-04-05 |title=SB Nation Podcast Network shuts down: 'We're all extremely blindsided by this' |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/sbnation-podcast-network-shuts-down.html |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
On February 11, 2025, Vox Media announced they were laying off three employees from Secret Base.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew |date=2025-02-11 |title=Vox's latest layoffs cut more than 20 percent of employees at SB Nation's Secret Base |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/vox-layoffs-sb-nation-secret-base-steven-godfrey-kofie-yeboah.html |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Multimedia content== In May 2016, ''SB Nation'' created an online video series for NBC Sports around ''NBC Sunday Night Football''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jarvey |first1=Natalie |title=Vox Media Sells Home Show 'Prefabulous' to FYI |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 4, 2016 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vox-media-sells-home-show-890713 |access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> The network expanded into radio programming in mid-2016 through a partnership with Gow Media.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Brooke |title=SB Nation Expands Into Radio Programming With Gow Media Accord |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-18/sb-nation-expands-into-radio-programming-with-gow-media-accord |website=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=March 22, 2018 |date=July 18, 2016 |archive-date=November 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125162258/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-18/sb-nation-expands-into-radio-programming-with-gow-media-accord |url-status=live }}</ref> ''SB Nation'' sold its first original television program, ''Foul Play'', to Verizon Communications{{'}} go90, in September. The network was averaging approximately 70 million unique monthly visitors at this time.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=September 7, 2017 |title=Vox Media Sells Its First Original Show: SB Nation's True-Crime Sports Docu-Series for Go90 |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/vox-sb-nation-go90-true-crime-sports-foul-play-1202549064/ |journal=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=810134503 |access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref> ''Foul Play'' premiered in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |date=May 23, 2018 |title=Summer Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series: 2018 Edition |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/summer-premiere-dates-for-new-returning-series-2018-edition-1202234265/ |access-date=July 13, 2018 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
In July 2017, SB Nation published ''17776'', a serialized speculative fiction multimedia narrative by Jon Bois.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bois |first=Jon |date=2017-07-05 |title=What football will look like in the future |url=https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=SBNation.com}}</ref> A sequel, called ''20020'', was published in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bois |first=Jon |date=2020-09-28 |title=20020: An American football story |url=https://www.sbnation.com/c/secret-base/21410129/20020 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=SBNation.com}}</ref>
In January 2018, ''SB Nation'' and ''Eater'' aired an online three-episode celebrity cooking competition series sponsored by PepsiCo. The show featured National Football League players Greg Jennings, Rashad Jennings, and Nick Mangold as competitors, as well as chefs Anne Burrell and Josh Capon.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Bennett |title=Vox Creative and PepsiCo tackle cooking competitions with NFL stars in 'Game Day Grub Match' |url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/01/11/vox-creative-and-pepsico-tackle-cooking-competitions-with-nfl-stars-game-day-grub |access-date=March 13, 2018 |work=The Drum |date=January 11, 2018 |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629031232/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/01/11/vox-creative-and-pepsico-tackle-cooking-competitions-with-nfl-stars-game-day-grub |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Richards |first1=Katie |title=PepsiCo Kicks Off Super Bowl Season With a Social-Driven Cooking Show Featuring Former NFL Stars |journal=Adweek |date=January 10, 2018 |url=http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/pepsico-kicks-off-super-bowl-season-with-a-social-driven-cooking-show-featuring-former-nfl-stars/ |access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref>
In 2018, SB Nation launched its podcast network, beginning with its NFL team sites and expanding to cover every major sports team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=2018-11-06 |title=Exclusive: SB Nation launches local NFL podcasts |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/11/06/sb-nation-local-nfl-podcasts-vox-media |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gennaro |first=John |date=2018-09-12 |title=Niners Nation’s podcast officially launches today on the Vox Media Podcast Network |url=https://blog.sbnation.com/2018/9/12/17847830/niners-nation-podcast-officially-launches-today-on-the-vox-media-podcast-network |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Blog Huddle |language=en|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200710004248/https://blog.sbnation.com/2018/9/12/17847830/niners-nation-podcast-officially-launches-today-on-the-vox-media-podcast-network|archive-date=2020-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gennaro |first=John |date=2018-09-12 |title=Arrowhead Pride’s podcast officially launches today on the Vox Media Podcast Network |url=https://blog.sbnation.com/2018/9/12/17847788/arrowhead-pride-podcast-sb-nation-kansas-city-chiefs-vox-media |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Blog Huddle |language=en|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180912175021/https://blog.sbnation.com/2018/9/12/17847788/arrowhead-pride-podcast-sb-nation-kansas-city-chiefs-vox-media|archive-date=2018-09-12}}</ref> In October, SB Nation launched its first storytelling podcast, “It Seemed Smart,” a six-part series hosted by Spencer Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2018-10-23 |title=SB Nation and the Vox Media Podcast Network Launch New Podcast Series, "It Seemed Smart" |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/about-vox-media/2018/10/23/18010724/sb-nation-it-seemed-smart-podcast |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref> ===Secret Base=== {{main|Secret Base}} SB Nation also maintains a YouTube channel which publishes regular web series, including ''Dorktown'' and ''Pretty Good'', among others. The channel launched in March 2012, and in August 2020, was renamed to Secret Base.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Jul 2020 |title=This is a special announcement. We hope you're sitting down. Because that's more comfortable. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Hbu3TwdGo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/8-Hbu3TwdGo |archive-date=2021-11-17 |access-date=24 Jul 2020 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Seth |date=2020-08-31 |title=Welcome to Secret Base |url=https://www.sbnation.com/secret-base/21408368/welcome-to-secret-base |access-date=2020-08-31 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2024, the company launched Top Secret Base, a paid subscription on Patreon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2024-04-24 |title=Vox Media and SB Nation’s Secret Base Launches Subscription Product |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2024/4/24/24138643/vox-media-and-sb-nations-secret-base-launches-subscription-product |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref>
On February 11, 2025, Vox Media laid off three employees, who made up more than 20% of the staff at Secret Base. The layoffs included Steven Godfrey, who had been working at SB Nation since 2011, and Kofie Yeboah, who had been working at Secret Base since 2017.<ref name=":1" />
== Recognition == In 2011, ''Time'' included ''SB Nation'' in their list of "50 Websites That Make the Web Great".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McCracken |first1=Harry |title=50 Websites That Make the Web Great |magazine=Time |date=August 16, 2011 }}</ref> ''SB Nation'' was a finalist in the seventh annual Shorty Awards{{'}} "fansite" category (2015),<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Ashley |title=Shorty Awards 2015: Nominees Include Shonda Rhimes, Chris Pratt, Laverne Cox |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 2, 2015 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shorty-awards-2015-nominees-include-778517 |access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Announcing the 7th Annual Shorty Awards finalists! |url=http://blog.shortyawards.com/post/112515443362/announcing-the-7th-annual-shorty-awards-finalists |publisher=Shorty Awards |access-date=April 18, 2018 |date=March 2, 2015 |archive-date=March 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305064931/http://blog.shortyawards.com/post/112515443362/announcing-the-7th-annual-shorty-awards-finalists |url-status=live }}</ref> and received a National Magazine Award (or Ellie Award) in the "Digital Innovation" category in 2018 as the publisher of Jon Bois{{'}} narrative, ''17776''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hays |first1=Kali |title=Ellie Awards Nix Magazine Category in Favor of Social, Digital Awards |journal=Women's Wear Daily |date=February 1, 2018 |url=http://wwd.com/business-news/media/ellie-national-magazine-awards-nix-magazine-category-in-favor-of-social-digital-awards-11135462/ |access-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628212329/https://wwd.com/business-news/media/ellie-national-magazine-awards-nix-magazine-category-in-favor-of-social-digital-awards-11135462/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dool |first1=Greg |title=New York and The New Yorker Dominate Ellie Awards Once Again |journal=Folio |date=March 13, 2018 |url=http://www.foliomag.com/new-york-new-yorker-dominate-ellie-awards/ |access-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628212331/https://www.eddie-ozzie.com/new-york-new-yorker-dominate-ellie-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After ''20020'' was released in September–October 2020, a third edition, ''20021'', was set to be released in 2021, but no release date has been set<!-- Bois has posted on reddit about this delay, but without any other sources talking about this, I couldn't put a proper citation. -->.
Letterboxd named Jon Bois' and Alex Rubenstein's collaborative documentary on the history of the Seattle Mariners the highest rated documentary miniseries of 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Letterboxd 2020 Year in Review|url=https://letterboxd.com/2020/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=letterboxd.com|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628212332/https://letterboxd.com/2020/#highest-rated-films|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''The New York Times'' listed its first episode, "This is not an endorsement of arson", as one of the best episodes of TV of 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Poniewozik|first1=James|last2=Hale|first2=Mike|last3=Lyons|first3=Margaret|date=2020-12-17|title=The Best TV Episodes of 2020|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/arts/television/best-tv-episodes.html|access-date=2021-01-11|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209140212/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/arts/television/best-tv-episodes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Secret Base won a 2021 Webby Award for its ''Beef History'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2021-05-18 |title=Vox Media Wins at the 2021 Webbys Awards |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2021/5/18/22442792/vox-media-wins-at-the-2021-webbys-awards |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Vox Media |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} * {{Official website|https://www.sbnation.com/}}
{{Vox Media}}
Category:SB Nation Category:Internet properties established in 2005 Category:American sport websites Category:Vox Media Category:Blog networks