Condé Nast Acquires Leading Business/Tech Publication Backchannel

Backchannel to Join WIRED and Ars Technica in Newly Formed Wired
Media Group

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Condé Nast today announced the acquisition of Backchannel,
the premier tech business brand from social publishing platform Medium.
Backchannel will be the third brand, alongside WIRED and Ars Technica,
in the newly formed Wired Media Group. Founder Steven Levy will return
to Condé Nast as part of the acquisition, along with executive editor
Sandra Upson. Acclaimed tech business journalist Jessi Hempel will also
transition to Backchannel from WIRED.

“Backchannel is one of the most highly-respected tech business brands
and seamlessly complements WIRED and Ars Technica to create the premier
group of leading editorial brands covering the technology sector,” said
Fred Santarpia, chief digital officer of Condé Nast. “Backchannel’s
unique and highly-engaged audience of tech enthusiasts also creates new
opportunities for our advertisers.”

Founded by Levy and Medium in 2014, Backchannel is a Silicon
Valley-focused business and tech publication that dives deep into the
culture and stories of the tech industry through in-depth and unique
reporting, and provides a distinctive and authoritative point of view.
Backchannel will continue its presence on the Medium platform.

“Condé Nast is already home to two of the leading technology
publications in the industry,” said Kim Kelleher, publisher and chief
revenue officer of the Wired Media Group. “Backchannel’s trusted insight
into the inner workings of Silicon Valley, coupled with WIRED and Ars
Technica’s signature editorial voices and storytelling expertise, will
truly make Condé Nast the authority within the tech space for audiences
and advertising partners alike.”

About Condé Nast:

Condé Nast is a premier media company renowned for producing the highest
quality content for the world’s most influential audiences. Attracting
more than 100 million consumers across its industry-leading print,
digital and video brands, the company’s portfolio includes some of the
most iconic titles in media: Vogue, Vanity Fair,
Glamour, Brides, GQ, GQ Style, The New Yorker, Condé
Nast Traveler, Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon
Appétit, Epicurious, Wired, W, Golf
Digest, Golf World, Teen Vogue, Ars Technica, The Scene
and Pitchfork. The company’s newest division, Condé Nast Entertainment,
was launched in 2011 to develop film, television and premium digital
video programming.

For more information, please visit condenast.com
and follow @CondeNast
on Twitter.

Contacts

Condé Nast
Joe Libonati, 212-286-4916
VP Corporate
Communications
Joe_libonati@condenast.com
or
Wired
Media Group
Corey Wilson, 212-286-2419
Senior Director,
Communications
Corey_wilson@condenast.com