sports illustrated

Sports Illustrated has shed is 35 to 40 percent of the publication’s editorial staff, following the transfer of control of SI’s operations to Maven Media Brands, according to a report in the Washington Post.

A statement from Maven management put the number slightly lower, saying that “over 74 percent of the people who worked at SI a week ago are still working at SI.”

While Maven says rumors that the laid-off employees are going to be replaced with freelancers are false, it does say that an expansion of a series of “team-specific destinations,” including 32 NFL team destinations, will be operated by “independent, third-party business that are provided access to Maven’s digital platform.”

SI, which was formerly owned by Time Inc., was one of the TI brands acquired by Meredith last year.

Meredith sold the title to brand management company Authentic Brands Group in May.

At the time of that sale, Meredith agreed to run the publication for the next two years, but the deal with Maven cut that short.