Deals
Mashable Is Close to Sale to PCMag Publisher Ziff Davis
- News site has struggled amid pivot from written word to video
- Ziff Davis unsuccessfully sought to acquire Gawker last year
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Ziff Davis, the digital media unit of J2 Global Inc., is close to an agreement to buy the struggling online news publisher Mashable Inc., according to people with knowledge of the matter.
A deal with Ziff Davis would offer Mashable a financial lifeline to continue its foray into video, a more costly endeavor than the written journalism that marked the company’s earlier years. Founded by Pete Cashmore in 2005, the company confirmed in August that it was seeking a buyer. Terms weren’t immediately known. J2 declined to comment while Mashable didn’t immediately respond.