Jim Bankoff

On The Verge of a New Tech Site, Which Finally Debuts

Kara Swisher in Media on October 31, 2011 at 7:18 pm PT

Tonight at 1 am PT, techies who have nothing else to do — that would be me! — can click onto a brand new tech site called The Verge.

Former Top Editor Makes Another Talent Raid on AOL’s Engadget for New Competing Gadget Site

Kara Swisher in Media on July 7, 2011 at 9:24 am PT

I love the smell of blog wars in the morning! Acting as Facebook often does to Google, a new site started by former Engadget editor Josh Topolsky just hired away yet another passel of tech journalists from the giant gadgets news and reviews organization. It is Topolsky’s second major talent raid since he left his editor-in-chief job there in March, for a new gadget property aimed at unseating Engadget.

Former AOL Media Exec Marty Moe to Join Engadget Gang of Eight at SB Nation

Kara Swisher in News on April 6, 2011 at 8:49 am PT

Just what is SB Nation’s Jim Bankoff up to? Earlier this week, he hired away eight staffers from AOL’s Engadget in order to create a competing tech news and gadget site. And now, according to sources close to the situation, the former AOL content head is close to hiring another former top AOL media exec, Marty Moe, to manage it and also more niche sites the blog network is contemplating launching.

AOL Confirms Tim Stevens as New Engadget Editor in Chief

Kara Swisher in News on April 4, 2011 at 7:08 am PT

As BoomTown reported earlier, AOL has confirmed that Tim Stevens (pictured here as Speed Racer) will replace Josh Topolsky as Editor-in-Chief of Engadget. Stevens has been working at the site since 2007, most recently as its automotive editor and also–until recently–part time. The appointment comes as eight former staffers at the giant tech news site said they were joining together to create a competing gadget site.

SB Nation Sacks AOL in Raid of Former Engadget Team for Competing New Tech Site, As AOL Zeroes in on New EiC

Kara Swisher in News on April 3, 2011 at 7:34 pm PT

Jim Bankoff, the fomer AOL exec responsible for buying Engadget for the Internet portal, has grabbed eight staffers who had recently left the huge tech site amid tensions, in order to start a new gadget property for his SB Nation sports and news platform. The site–which is still unnamed and will be run by outgoing Engadget Editor-in-Chief Josh Topolsky–will debut sometime in the fall. Meanwhile, AOL has zeroed in on a new leader to replace Topolsky.

Exclusive: SB Nation Raises $10.5 Million in Khosla Ventures-Led Series C Round

Kara Swisher in News on November 8, 2010 at 12:02 am PT

SB Nation, the Washington, D.C.-based sports blog and news start-up, has just completed a $10.5 million Series C round, which is being led by Khosla Ventures, according to sources. SB Nation has already raised about $13 million in total venture funding from Accel Partners, Allen & Company, Comcast Interactive Capital, as well as angel investors such as Ted Leonsis and others in Silicon Valley.

Let's Go to the Videotape: SB Nation's Jim Bankoff Speaks!

Kara Swisher in News on May 4, 2010 at 8:30 am PT

While in Washington, D.C., recently, I paid a visit to Jim Bankoff, who is now helming a fascinating start-up called SB Nation, a fast-growing sports blog and news platform. With over 200 individual communities, it’s a mix of professional and user-generated content aimed at engaging passionate fans.

Voices

SB Nation Launches Real-Time Updates

Andrew LaVallee, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on September 10, 2009 at 7:08 am PT

SB Nation, the network of sporting sites owned by Sportsblogs Inc., is getting a makeover focused on real-time updates, a bid to increase traffic between its Web properties. The redesign went into effect late Wednesday and includes a “storystream,” similar to Facebook’s news feed, that wraps up articles, blog posts, videos and other content about hot topics like Melanie Oudin’s U.S. Open advance and Brady Quinn’s starting for the Browns on Sunday. Editors monitor news outlets, Twitter feeds and SB Nation’s sites for each storystream and keep them frequently updated, said Jim Bankoff, the company’s chief executive.

Former AOLer Jim Bankoff Scores $7 Million for Sports News and Community Start-Up

Kara Swisher in News on July 16, 2009 at 3:51 pm PT

Jim Bankoff–the well-regarded former AOL exec who runs an online sports news network called SB Nation–has nabbed $7 million in funding from investors, including Comcast Interactive Capital, said sources. People familiar with the situation said SB Nation’s post-investment valuation, after this second round, will be $30 million and also include previous investors, such as Accel Partners and Allen & Co.

Former AOL Head Jon Miller Heads to News Corp. as "Chief Digital Officer"

Kara Swisher in News on March 27, 2009 at 5:20 pm PT

BoomTown has confirmed a report that former AOL head Jon Miller is set to take over as digital head at News Corp., replacing Peter Levinsohn. But Miller has not actually signed up for the job officially, since he is still under a noncompete agreement with Time Warner from his AOL stint. It runs out in three days, in fact. But sources said News Corp. is likely to announce Miller as its “chief digital officer” by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Once he does sign, which seems likely, Miller will be reporting directly to the media giant’s head, Rupert Murdoch. Based in New York, he will also be chairman and CEO of the newly created News Digital Media group.