- LA Times Media Group integrates traditional journalism with gaming and virtual production via its Graphene platform
- Plans for a public offering and innovative community shareholder model aim to revitalise the historic media brand
- The move reflects broader industry trends amid financial pressures and internal organisational challenges
The Los Angeles Times Media Group has announced plans to reinvent itself as an integrated media platform, merging traditional journalism with advanced digital technologies such as virtual production and esports. The move formalises seven years of investment by owner Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, who bought the newspaper in 2018 to preserve its legacy while modernising its reach and operations.
The group will unite four brands – the Los Angeles Times, LA Times Studios, NantStudios and NantGames – under a new content and streaming system called Graphene. The platform is designed to distribute stories seamlessly across print, video and interactive formats, appealing to audiences across generations. A company statement described the initiative as a marriage of “accountable journalism and cutting-edge media technologies.”
Alongside the relaunch, LATMG has opened a private placement capped at $500m for accredited investors and plans a public offering ahead of a potential listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Soon-Shiong said that when he acquired the Times, the technology required to realise his vision “did not yet exist.” He cited recent investments in podcast studios, broadcast facilities and a virtual production campus with advanced fibre connectivity as key to building a “modern storytelling ecosystem.”
The plans come amid financial turbulence. The Los Angeles Times reported a net loss of about $48 million in 2024 and cut more than 20% of its newsroom staff earlier this year. Senior leadership departures, including those of Executive Editor Kevin Merida and Managing Editor Sara Yasin, have drawn attention to internal tensions over editorial independence.
Industry analysts say LATMG’s attempt to blend news, gaming and digital entertainment mirrors wider efforts by legacy publishers to diversify revenue streams and attract younger audiences. However, the market for media IPOs remains difficult, with investors wary of profitability challenges across the sector.
Soon-Shiong has likened the future ownership model to that of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, suggesting a community-based shareholder structure, though details remain unclear.
The company expects to move toward its public offering in 2027, a milestone that will test whether a legacy newsroom can successfully reinvent itself as a multi-platform digital enterprise.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251010349066/en/LA-Times-Media-Group-Launches-Offering-of-Shares-to-Build-the-Media-Company-of-the-Future?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-bV7DTIYheT0D-1vT4_bKFzt_EW40VMdK6eG-WLfRGUE1fJraLPL1g6AeUGJlCTYs7Oafol48Kkc8KJgZoTHgMu0w8LYSbRdYOj2VdwnuKwa – Original press release. View link for all data
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251010349066/en/LA-Times-Media-Group-Launches-Offering-of-Shares-to-Build-the-Media-Company-of-the-Future – LA Times Media Group (LATMG) has announced its launch as an integrated media platform combining trusted journalism, premium digital publishing, state-of-the-art virtual production, and global gaming, including esports, into a single engagement engine. The company has opened a private placement opportunity at Join.LATimes.com, followed by a potential Regulation A (Reg A) public offering, with an intended NYSE listing under the ticker ‘LAT’. Founded in 1881, the Los Angeles Times is one of America’s most storied publications. In 2018, Dr. Soon-Shiong acquired the paper with a commitment not only to preserve its legacy but also to expand its reach through modernized infrastructure and innovation. Following seven years of investment, LATMG now formalizes that evolution by integrating the Los Angeles Times, LA Times Studios, NantStudios, and NantGames into one unified content management and streaming media platform, designed to accelerate premium content, live events, and community engagement. LATMG’s novel unified operating structure and Graphene media platform synchronizes and integrates these four brands, so stories move fluidly into formats and communities, compounding trust, reach, and engagement accessible by a broader audience across all generations. For a limited time, eligible investors will be able to invest in this private offering. The new private offering is solely available to accredited investors. The offering consists of shares of the company’s Series A Preferred Stock, which carry a 7% annual interest and are convertible into common stock at a 25% discount to the potential IPO price. The maximum aggregate offering amount is up to $500 million. Qualified prospective investors who meet the qualifications of an ‘accredited investor’ can invest as little as $5,000 in this offering and join LA Times Media Group as a shareholder and owner. Full offering details and the ability to sign up to learn more about the contemplated public offering can be found at Join.LATimes.com. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Chairman and CEO of LATMG, said: ‘When I bought the Los Angeles Times in 2018, the technology to realize the vision I had for its future as a next-generation media platform did not yet exist. Over the past seven years, we have built the foundation, investing in infrastructure to establish LATMG from our new headquarters and advanced state-of-the-art production facilities, including test kitchens, podcast facilities, news broadcast studios, and a state-of-the-art virtual production campus with fiber connectivity, all enabled by a powerful modernized software content management platform (Graphene) driven by data, design, and innovation, to modernize how stories are told and accessed by our audience. Today, with the launch of the LA Times Media Group, we bring these capabilities together as one integrated platform, where accountable journalism meets cutting-edge technology, and where our community is invited to join us as partners in shaping the future of storytelling.’
- https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-media-trends-387962e0-a898-11f0-ab56-07117a0d6f2d – This edition of Axios Media Trends, dated October 14, 2025, highlights the evolving strategies of major media companies amidst industry shifts: 1. **BDG Media’s Pivot to Influencer Membership**: BDG Media (owner of Bustle, Nylon, Scary Mommy) is expected to generate up to $130 million in 2025 by focusing on influencer-driven memberships and events. Unlike traditional paid memberships, BDG selects influencers to join clubs like Nylon Club, monetizing via brand sponsorships and events. The plan includes scaling this model to other BDG brands. 2. **Conservative Outlets vs. Pentagon Press Pledge**: Major conservative and mainstream news outlets, including Fox News and CNN, refused to sign a new Pentagon agreement viewed as restrictive to press freedoms. Only One America News (OAN) was reportedly willing to comply. 3. **The New York Sun’s Print Comeback**: The Sun will relaunch its print edition weekly, targeting niche reader experiences. The move is part of a broader strategy balancing digital and curated print media. 4. **WBD Rejects Paramount Skydance Bid**: Warner Bros. Discovery declined a $20/share acquisition offer from Paramount Skydance, opting instead to split into two public companies—one for cable, the other for streaming/studios by mid-2026. 5. **LA Times Preps IPO**: The Los Angeles Times is raising $500 million via private stock offerings ahead of a planned 2027 IPO. Despite sharp losses, it’s pitching a hybrid of legacy journalism and digital media ventures. 6. **Netflix-Spotify Video Podcast Deal**: Spotify will distribute select video podcasts on Netflix in the U.S. starting 2026. This partnership is part of broader industry efforts to tap rising video podcast audiences and advertising revenues. Why it matters: The paper would need to convince investors that its future plans are compelling and lucrative in order to survive a challenging public market for media companies. The company reported a net loss before income taxes of $48 million for fiscal year 2024 on revenue of more than … . Zoom in: The new entity, … . 💵 The offering seeks up to … . 🏛️ The company plans to … . Between the lines: The Times hired … .
- https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-la-times-media-group-launches-offering-shares-build-/2025/10/10/10269159.htm – LA Times Media Group (LATMG) has announced its launch as an integrated media platform combining trusted journalism, premium digital publishing, state-of-the-art virtual production, and global gaming, including esports, into a single engagement engine. The company has opened a private placement opportunity at Join.LATimes.com, followed by a potential Regulation A (Reg A) public offering, with an intended NYSE listing under the ticker ‘LAT’. Founded in 1881, the Los Angeles Times is one of America’s most storied publications. In 2018, Dr. Soon-Shiong acquired the paper with a commitment not only to preserve its legacy but also to expand its reach through modernized infrastructure and innovation. Following seven years of investment, LATMG now formalizes that evolution by integrating the Los Angeles Times, LA Times Studios, NantStudios, and NantGames into one unified content management and streaming media platform, designed to accelerate premium content, live events, and community engagement. LATMG’s novel unified operating structure and Graphene media platform synchronizes and integrates these four brands, so stories move fluidly into formats and communities, compounding trust, reach, and engagement accessible by a broader audience across all generations. For a limited time, eligible investors will be able to invest in this private offering. The new private offering is solely available to accredited investors. The offering consists of shares of the company’s Series A Preferred Stock, which carry a 7% annual interest and are convertible into common stock at a 25% discount to the potential IPO price. The maximum aggregate offering amount is up to $500 million. Qualified prospective investors who meet the qualifications of an ‘accredited investor’ can invest as little as $5,000 in this offering and join LA Times Media Group as a shareholder and owner. Full offering details and the ability to sign up to learn more about the contemplated public offering can be found at Join.LATimes.com. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Chairman and CEO of LATMG, said: ‘When I bought the Los Angeles Times in 2018, the technology to realize the vision I had for its future as a next-generation media platform did not yet exist. Over the past seven years, we have built the foundation, investing in infrastructure to establish LATMG from our new headquarters and advanced state-of-the-art production facilities, including test kitchens, podcast facilities, news broadcast studios, and a state-of-the-art virtual production campus with fiber connectivity, all enabled by a powerful modernized software content management platform (Graphene) driven by data, design, and innovation, to modernize how stories are told and accessed by our audience. Today, with the launch of the LA Times Media Group, we bring these capabilities together as one integrated platform, where accountable journalism meets cutting-edge technology, and where our community is invited to join us as partners in shaping the future of storytelling.’
- https://www.thewrap.com/patrick-soon-shiong-los-angeles-times-public/ – Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, announced plans to take the 143-year-old newspaper public within the next year, aiming to give the public a stake in the publication. Speaking on ‘The Daily Show,’ he said the model would resemble the public ownership structure of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, with help from a partner organization to design the framework. This announcement follows a turbulent period for the paper, including the layoff of at least 115 newsroom staff—over 20% of the team—in January, due to $30–$40 million in annual losses. Recent leadership changes include the departures of Executive Editor Kevin Merida and Managing Editor Sara Yasin, along with the resignation of the editorial editor, reportedly after Soon-Shiong blocked a planned endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Soon-Shiong originally acquired the publication in 2018 for $500 million from Tronc. The LA Times has not responded to requests for further comment.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/los-angeles-times-go-public-owner-soon-shiong-says-2025-07-22/ – Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, announced plans to take the 143-year-old newspaper public within the next year, aiming to give the public a stake in the publication. Speaking on ‘The Daily Show,’ he said the model would resemble the public ownership structure of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, with help from a partner organization to design the framework. This announcement follows a turbulent period for the paper, including the layoff of at least 115 newsroom staff—over 20% of the team—in January, due to $30 million in annual losses. The article ends abruptly, but it essentially repeats the announcement of the upcoming IPO and the comparison to Packers’ ownership structure.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative appears to be fresh, with no evidence of prior publication or recycling. The press release format suggests a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content does not include updated data recycling older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and Mark Elenowitz are unique to this release, with no prior usage found. No variations in wording were noted.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Business Wire, a reputable press release distribution service, indicating a high level of reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about LATMG’s transformation into an integrated media platform align with known industry trends. The financial details, including the private placement offering and potential public offering, are plausible and consistent with standard business practices. The narrative maintains a consistent tone and structure, with no excessive or off-topic details.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are unique and the source is reliable. The claims are plausible and consistent with industry trends. No significant issues were identified, leading to a high-confidence assessment.
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