ESPN Gives Web Star Bill Simmons His Own Site

Here’s Bill Simmons’ reward for sticking with ESPN: His own piece of turf, where he can put people like Chuck Klosterman to work riffing on sports and pop culture. Perhaps even “literary” stuff. No name or launch date yet, but both are coming soon.

A Media Non-Move: ESPN.com Star Bill Simmons Stays Put

Here’s a variation on the “old media star bails for new media outlet” story–a new media star staying put at the place that made him famous.

ESPN's Spiked LeBron James Story Is Scandal-Free, Does Mention "Panties"

Why did ESPN kill a pretty tame Web story about the most famous athlete in America? Hard to guess. In any case, it doesn’t matter now: On a slow summer day, it’s perfect fodder for bored Web surfers.

ESPN Tries Rebuilding the Pay Wall For Its Magazine

Here’s another big media player trying — very cautiously — to get people to pay for online media: Disney’s ESPN is going to put the Website for its “ESPN the Magazine” title behind a paywall this summer. But the vast majority of the site’s stuff will remain free.
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Time Inc. Wonders What You’ll Pay For on the Web

Time Inc. is happy to boast about its online audience, but it’s also acknowledging that Web advertising alone may not be enough these days. So it’s going to start charging readers — or at least start thinking about the notion.