Ziff Davis

Ziff Davis Media Inc. is the leading information authority for buying, using and experiencing technology and the Internet. Key Dates: William B. Ziff and Bernard Davis found Popular Aviation Company, publisher of Popular Aviation magazine; the company is soon renamed Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. Ziff Communications Company is formed, with Ziff-Davis becoming one of its divisions. Ziff completes its first foray into computer magazines, with launch of PCjr. Company sells consumer and business magazines to focus on computer magazines and IAC. First consumer computing magazines debut, including FamilyPC. Ziff family places the company up for sale; Ziff-Davis Publishing is sold to Forstmann Little & Co., IAC is sold to The Thomson Corporation, and Ziff-Davis Exhibitors is sold to Softbank Corporation; Ziff-Davis Publishing launches online news service ZDNet. Softbank takes company public as Ziff-Davis Inc.; ZDTV cable channel is launched. Ziff-Davis sells its publishing arm to private investors, who rename the unit Ziff Davis Media Inc. Ziff Davis Media Inc. is the leading U.S. publisher of technology and Internet magazines and also ranks as the sixth largest U.S. magazine publisher. Among the company's key publications are the consumer-oriented PC Magazine, Ziff Davis SMART BUSINESS for the New Economy, Yahoo! Internet Life, FamilyPC, Expedia Travels, and eshopper; the business-focused eWEEK, Inter& 064ctive Week, Sm& 064rt Partner, and The Net Economy; and in the gaming world, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, Computer Gaming World, and Expert Gamer. One other U.S. title, Macworld, is produced through a joint venture with International Data Group. The company licenses its content and brands to licensees who produce some 50 additional titles in 30 international markets. The company also publishes four magazines in China through joint ventures. The history of Ziff Davis Media is unusually complex, highlighted by three major events--a huge asset sale (1985) and two breakups of the company into several separate pieces (1994 and 2000). The company also evolved significantly over the years. It started out publishing specialty consumer magazines and then branched out into business niche publications, before refocusing on the computer magazine niche following the 1985 divestments. It then branched out again, into such related areas as trade shows and exhibitions, database and CD-ROM publishing, and online publishing. Following the 1994 breakup, it focused on its technology publications and the ZDNet online content site. The company soon regained a presence in the trade show field and launched a cable television channel, ZDTV. But then in 2000, the company was broken apart yet again, with the technology publications gaining independence within Ziff Davis Media Inc., and the other Ziff units going their separate ways. The ultimate predecessor of the company was effectively formed in 1927--initially as Popular Aviation Company, becoming Ziff-Davis Publishing Company shortly thereafter. Founded by majority partner William B. Ziff, World War I flyer, author, and lecturer, and minority partner Bernard Davis, the company launched a line of hobby and leisure magazines with Popular Aviation (still published today as Aviation ). During the early years, the company grew at a tremendous rate (expanding to 32 times its initial size in its first ten years), publishing a combination of reference, trade, and juvenile books; 'pulp' magazines such as Amazing Stories, Air Adventures, Mammoth Detective, Mammoth Mystery, and Mammoth Western; and specialty consumer magazines such as Modern Bride, Popular Aviation, Popular Electronics, and Radio News. Although the company was successful with most of its various publishing ventures, William Ziff never devoted his full attention to the business, preferring to focus on his writing, flying, and other interests, so Davis effectively handled day-to-day operations. By the earl