OutKick
 | |
| Type | Sports news |
|---|---|
| Format | Online |
| Owner(s) | Fox Corporation |
| Founder(s) | Clay Travis |
| Editor | Gary Schreier |
| Staff writers | Clay Travis, Tomi Lahren, Dan Dakich, Jonathan Hutton, Chad Withrow, Charly Arnolt, Trey Wallace, Armando Salguero, Bobby Burack, David Hookstead, Joe Kinsey, Geoff Clark, Tyrus |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Political alignment | Right-wing |
| Language | English |
| City | Nashville |
| Country | United States |
| Website | www |
OutKick, originally named OutKick the Coverage, is an American conservative sports news website founded by Clay Travis in 2011. Travis has described the site as being an alternative to mainstream sports news outlets that serve the "elite, left-leaning minority instead of the American sports fan", and has stated that Outkick aimed to expose "the destructive nature of ‘woke’ activism".[1]
History[edit]
Foundation[edit]
Founded by Clay Travis in 2011 as a right-wing sports news alternative, the site was originally named OutKick the Coverage.[2] In 2020, Jason Whitlock, an ex-Fox Sports host, joined the company.[3] Despite buying a one third stake in the company when he joined, Whitlock quickly entered a feud with the other two owners, Travis and Sam Savage, as Savage had been with the company at the start, and as such never "purchased" a stake in the company. Whitlock spent $500,000 for his stake. Whitlock argued that Savage was not putting his "sweat" into the company, and issued an ultimatum: either Savage invests $500,000 into the company, or he will leave. This investment never came and Whitlock left OutKick in early 2021.[4]
Fox acquisition[edit]
Travis sold the company to the Fox Corporation on May 6, 2021, stating that the new ownership of the website will allow it to dramatically grow in size and reach a broader audience.[5] Variety assessed that the purchase was for Fox to have a rival to Barstool Sports, which also saw a massive increase in internet popularity from 2020 to 2021.[6][7]
The website hired social media personality Tomi Lahren as a new personality to host its afternoon opinion talk-show on 2 June 2022.[8]
After its acquisition by Fox, OutKick grew from just 10 employees prior to the acquisition, to over 50, and opened a new larger office in Nashville in March 2023.[9] As of 2024, Outkick's annual revenue was estimated at somewhere between $345,000 and $620,000.[10]
On July 31, 2023, several of OutKick's internet talk-shows; OutKick The Show with Clay Travis, Tomi Lahren Is Fearless and Gaines For Girls, were moved to Fox's streaming app, Fox Nation.[11][12] On August 2, 2023, the company claimed to have been locked out of their own YouTube account. Shortly prior to the lockout, Lahren called the COVID-19 vaccine "basically worthless" on X.[13] Professional wrestler Tyrus, a Fox News Contributor and co-host/regular panelist of Gutfeld!, began hosting Maintaining with Tyrus on February 1, 2024.[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Once an Escape, Sports Talk Embraces Politics". The New York Times. February 10, 2024. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "about us". outkick.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Bleier, Evan. "Ex-Fox Sports Host Jason Whitlock Joining Clay Travis at Outkick". insidehook.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Bleier, Evan. "Jason Whitlock Reveals Why He Left Clay Travis and Outkick". insidehook.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Bleier, Evan. "Clay Travis Selling Right-Wing Sports News Site Outkick to Fox". insidehook.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "Fox Buys Clay Travis' 'Outkick' Sports-News Site". Variety. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Ben. "Clay Travis's Outkick to be acquired by Fox Corporation". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Mastrangelo, Dominick. "Tomi Lahren inks deal with conservative media outlet Outkick". The Hill. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Rau, Nate. "Outkick expands presence in Nashville". Axios. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "OutKick Net Worth and Earnings (March 2024)". Net Worth Spot. March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ "'OutKick' Shows Launch On Fox Nation". tvnewscheck.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "OutKick Shows Launch on FOX Nation". Business Wire. Yahoo! News. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "OutKick Reportedly Locked Out of YouTube Channel For COVID-19 Comments". barrettnewsmedia.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (January 25, 2024). "Fox News Contributor Tyrus to Host Interview Series for Outkick (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Varsallone, Jim (February 17, 2024). "Interview with Tyrus". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 10, 2024.