The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company is an American mass-media corporation headquartered in The New York Times Building in Manhattan. It is best known as the publisher of The New York Times, one of the world's most prominent newspapers, but its contemporary business extends well beyond the printed newspaper. The company operates a portfolio of journalism, subscription, audio, games, product-review, and sports-media offerings, with The New York Times and its associated digital services at the center of the group. The company's origins are connected to the first issue of the New-York Daily Times, published in New York City on September 18, 1851. Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones established the newspaper with an ambition to create a morning publication with durable civic and commercial importance. The newspaper later became The New York Times and, after Adolph Ochs acquired it in 1896, developed under the Ochs-Sulzberger family into a major national and international news institution. The corporate structure ultimately became The New York Times Company. During the twentieth century and the early part of the twenty-first century, the company diversified into broadcasting, radio, regional newspapers, cable television, online information services, and specialist media. It owned or invested in television stations, WQXR classical-music radio, the International Herald Tribune, About.com, Baseline StudioSystems, and other properties. Some of these businesses were later sold as the company narrowed its focus. The divestitures of the broadcast group, regional newspaper assets, About.com, and The Boston Globe reflected a strategic preference for concentrating capital and management attention on core Times-branded journalism and digital growth. The company faced serious structural pressure as print advertising declined and consumer media habits moved online. In response, it introduced a digital paywall for NYTimes.com in 2011. The subscription model became a central pillar of the business, supporting investment in reporting while reducing reliance on print advertising. The company subsequently expanded the definition of a Times subscription through products such as cooking, games, audio, product reviews, and sports journalism. The New York Times Company accelerated this subscription and digital strategy through acquisitions. The Wirecutter added a respected consumer-product review service; Audm strengthened narrated journalism and audio; Serial Productions added podcast production capabilities; Wordle broadened the company's games offering; and The Athletic brought a large subscription-based sports-news operation into the portfolio. The Athletic continues to operate with a degree of editorial and organizational separation while contributing to the company's broader subscription bundle. The company is publicly traded under the symbol NYT. Its dual-class share structure gives the Ochs-Sulzberger family substantial governance influence despite the public trading of Class A stock. Meredith Kopit Levien became president and chief executive officer in 2020, succeeding a period in which the company increasingly presented itself as a digital subscription and product company rather than only a newspaper publisher. A. G. Sulzberger serves as publisher of The New York Times and chairman of the company. Its present identity combines a global news brand, a subscription platform, and a portfolio of adjacent digital products.

The New York Times Company's history begins with the launch of the New-York Daily Times in 1851. Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones founded the newspaper in New York City, where its first issue appeared on September 18 of that year. The publication developed into The New York Times and became a significant American newspaper. Adolph Ochs acquired the newspaper in 1896, establishing the family ownership tradition that continues to influence the company through its dual-class share structure and the Ochs-Sulzberger family trusts. For much of the twentieth century, the business was principally associated with newspaper publishing, but it also accumulated a broad collection of media assets. It acquired WQXR radio in 1944 and operated the classical-music station for decades. In the 1990s, the company entered cable and broadcast-related activities, including an investment in the Popcorn Channel and the acquisition of Palmer Communications. It later participated in Discovery Times, a television venture that was subsequently transferred to Discovery and relaunched as Investigation Discovery. The company also expanded its newspaper and specialist-information holdings. It became the sole owner of the International Herald Tribune in 2003 after acquiring The Washington Post Company's remaining interest. In 2005 it purchased About.com, an online consumer-information service, and in 2006 acquired Baseline StudioSystems, a database covering the film and television industries. These investments reflected the company's attempt to participate in the growth of online information and specialized digital content. The mid-2000s also brought a retreat from several non-core activities. The company sold its broadcast group in 2007, disposing of nine network-affiliated television stations and related digital operations. WQXR-FM was sold to WNYC in 2009, ending the company's long ownership of the station. Regional newspapers were sold to Halifax Media Group in 2011, while Baseline StudioSystems was returned to its original owners that same year. About.com was sold to IAC in 2012, and The Boston Globe and other New England properties were sold to John W. Henry in 2013. A major strategic turning point was the shift from an advertising- and print-led model toward paid digital subscriptions. The company launched a paywall for its main website in 2011, seeking to convert the newspaper's large online audience into paying readers. The effort became increasingly important as print circulation and advertising faced long-term pressure. The company subsequently invested in digital product development, data, audio, games, cooking, product reviews, and other services intended to increase engagement and create a broader subscription relationship. The acquisition of Wirecutter in 2016 added a consumer-review business with a subscription and commerce connection. Audm and Serial Productions, acquired in 2020, strengthened narrated journalism and podcasting. In 2022, Wordle added a mass-market puzzle franchise, while The Athletic brought a subscription sports publication into the company. These moves supported the company's strategy of building a multi-product digital subscription bundle around journalism and adjacent forms of content. The company remains publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NYT. Its Class A shares are publicly traded, while Class B shares are privately held and largely controlled by descendants of Adolph Ochs through the 1997 Trust. This arrangement gives the family continuing influence over board representation and strategic direction. The company's headquarters are in The New York Times Building in Manhattan, and its contemporary business is organized around a global digital audience, paid subscriptions, premium advertising, and a portfolio of related media products.

1. 2022Wordle and The Athletic join the portfolio

   The company acquired Wordle and subscription sports publisher The Athletic as part of its multi-product strategy.

   Source
2. 2020Audio and podcast expansion

   The company acquired Audm and Serial Productions and appointed Meredith Kopit Levien as chief executive.

   Source
3. 2016Wirecutter acquisition

   The company acquired the product-review site Wirecutter, expanding beyond conventional news publishing.

   Source
4. 2011Digital paywall launches

   Paid digital access became a central response to the decline of print advertising.

   Source
5. 2003The company becomes sole owner of the International Herald Tribune

   The company purchased The Washington Post Company's remaining interest in the international newspaper.

   Source
6. 1997Public-company share structure is established

   The company adopted the dual-class structure associated with the 1997 Trust and publicly traded Class A shares.

   Source
7. 1944WQXR radio acquisition

   The newspaper acquired the New York classical-music radio station WQXR.

   Source
8. 1896Adolph Ochs acquires The New York Times

   The acquisition established the Ochs-Sulzberger family connection that later shaped the company's governance.

   Source
9. 1851First issue of the New-York Daily Times

   Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones launched the newspaper that became The New York Times.

   Source

A premium, globally recognized journalism and subscription-media group built around trusted reporting, distinctive editorial franchises, and a growing bundle of digital products.

• The New York TimesNewspaper and digital news1851

  The company's flagship journalism publication, distributed in print and through digital platforms. It covers national and international news, politics, business, culture, science, opinion, and other editorial areas. Its digital edition is the foundation of the company's subscription business and reaches readers worldwide.

• The New York Times International EditionInternational newspaper

  The international edition extends the Times brand to readers outside the United States, combining international reporting with selected content from the broader New York Times newsroom.

• WirecutterProduct reviews2011

  A consumer-product recommendation and review service acquired by the company in 2016. Wirecutter evaluates products across household, technology, travel, and lifestyle categories and operates as a distinct editorial brand within the broader Times portfolio.

• New York Times GamesDigital games

  A collection of puzzles and word games offered as part of the company's digital product ecosystem. The portfolio includes the acquired Wordle game and is designed to support frequent engagement and subscription bundling.

• The AthleticSports journalism2016

  A subscription-based sports news publisher acquired in 2022. It provides reporting, analysis, and features across professional and college sports and continues to operate with a distinct editorial identity under the company's ownership.

• AudmAudio journalism

  A subscription audio service acquired in 2020 that converts long-form journalism into narrated listening experiences and supports the company's broader audio strategy.

• Serial ProductionsPodcast production

  A podcast production company acquired in 2020. Its addition gave the Times greater control over original audio storytelling and expanded its presence in the podcast market.

• WQXRRadio1944

  A classical-music radio property owned by the company for decades after its 1944 acquisition. The company sold WQXR-FM to WNYC in 2009, ending the property’s place in the corporate portfolio.

• 2009The New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award

  United States

  The company launched an award honoring an American playwright who had recently made a professional New York debut.

  Outcome. Tarell Alvin McCraney received the inaugural award, followed by Dan LeFranc in 2010.

  Source
• 2008I Love My Librarian!

  United States

  The company partnered with Carnegie Corporation of New York and the American Library Association to honor librarians for meaningful service to their communities.

  Outcome. The program became an annual recognition of exceptional librarians.

  Source
• 2007Nonprofit Excellence Award

  New York City · Long Island · Westchester

  The company introduced an award recognizing nonprofit organizations for strong management practices.

  Outcome. The award was presented to multiple eligible nonprofit organizations.

  Source

• 2022Acquisition of The AthleticM&A

  The company was broadening its subscription offering with specialized digital content.

  What changed. The company acquired subscription sports publisher The Athletic.

  Aftermath. The Athletic became part of the company's portfolio while retaining separate editorial and operating characteristics.

  Reported acquisition price. 550 million US dollars (2022 acquisition)

  Source
• 2020Appointment of Meredith Kopit Levien as CEOOther

  The company was pursuing a digital subscription strategy and expanding beyond its traditional newspaper format.

  What changed. Chief operating officer Meredith Kopit Levien was appointed president and chief executive officer.

  Aftermath. The company continued emphasizing digital subscriptions, product development, audio, games, and portfolio expansion.

  Source
• 2016Acquisition of WirecutterM&A

  The company sought additional digital products with strong audience engagement and subscription or commerce potential.

  What changed. The New York Times Company acquired Wirecutter.

  Aftermath. Consumer-product recommendations became part of the Times product portfolio.

  Source
• 2013Concentration on core Times brandsStrategy

  The company had accumulated regional newspapers and other media properties while the economics of newspaper publishing were changing.

  What changed. It sold The Boston Globe and related New England properties to John W. Henry.

  Aftermath. The company became more concentrated around The New York Times and its digital businesses.

  Source
• 2011Launch of the digital paywallStrategy

  Declining print advertising revenue created pressure to develop a more direct digital consumer-revenue model.

  What changed. The company began charging for access to portions of its online journalism through a digital subscription system.

  Aftermath. Digital subscriptions became a central component of the company's business model and product strategy.

  Source
• 2006Exit from the Discovery Times television ventureStrategy

  The company had jointly participated in a cable network later known as Discovery Times.

  What changed. The company sold its interest to Discovery.

  Aftermath. The channel was later relaunched as Investigation Discovery.

  Source

• 2022The company acquires Wordle

  The company acquired the popular online word game Wordle, adding a widely recognized games property to its digital product portfolio.

  M&AProduct generation
  Source
• 2022The company acquires The Athletic

  The New York Times Company acquired subscription sports publisher The Athletic, broadening its digital journalism and subscription bundle.

  M&A
  Source
• 2020Meredith Kopit Levien becomes chief executive officer

  The company appointed its chief operating officer, Meredith Kopit Levien, as president and chief executive officer.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2020The company acquires Audm and Serial Productions

  The acquisitions expanded the company's subscription audio and podcast-production capabilities.

  M&AProduct launch
  Source
• 2013The Boston Globe is sold to John W. Henry

  The company sold The Boston Globe and related New England media properties, emphasizing a more focused strategy centered on its core brands.

  M&A
  Source
• 2012The New York Times Company sells About.com to IAC

  The company divested About.com as it continued to streamline its portfolio around core Times brands.

  M&A
  Source
• 2011The company introduces a digital paywall for The New York Times

  The New York Times Company introduced paid digital access as print advertising weakened. The model later became a foundation of the company's subscription strategy.

  Product launch
  Source

1. The New York Times Company