The Athletic is a sports media company founded in 2016, built on a subscription-first model that delivers in-depth sports journalism free from advertising and clickbait. The publication provides coverage including breaking news, live commentary, long-form features, and exclusive interviews across North America and the United Kingdom, where it covers all 20 English Premier League clubs. It is organized as a subscription service, with readers paying for access rather than encountering ads, pop-ups, or auto-play videos.
The company operates a full-time newsroom of over 400 writers, editors, and producers. Its coverage spans more than 47 markets in North America and hundreds of professional and college teams. The mission centres on building what it describes as the best newsroom in sports, with a commitment to independent, quality reporting staffed by award-winning talent.
The Athletic was acquired after operating as an independent company. Its primary industry verticals are sports media, journalism, and subscription services.
