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Apr 2026Paramount pulled advertising from The Ankler after Richard Rushfield’s public support for the 'Block the Merger' campaign, and Paramount employees were told not to cooperate with the outlet until further notice.
SourceCompany research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Overview
Independent, subscriber-supported Hollywood business media brand founded by Richard Rushfield in 2017 and expanded into Ankler Media under Janice Min; it publishes newsletters, podcasts, video, and live events for entertainment decision-makers and creators.
Primary product
Paid entertainment-industry newsletter and multi-platform media publication
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California, United States
Team size
10-20 employees
Industry
Entertainment Providers
Sub-industry
Entertainment media / Hollywood business journalism
Offices
Los Angeles, California, United States
San Francisco, California, United States
Business model
paid subscriptions
free newsletter tier
advertising/sponsorships
live events
podcasts
video
Funding
Stage
seed
Total raised
$2M
Latest round
Seed · Jun 2022
Latest amount
$1.5M
Jun 2022 · Y Combinator
Y Combinator initial funding / pre-seed
Jan 2022 · Y Combinator
People & investors
Leadership
CEO and Editor-in-Chief
Founder and Chief Columnist
Publisher
News & Features Editor
Deputy Editor
Director of Marketing and Events
Director Of Social Media And Audience Development
Senior Director, Social & Audience Strategy
Head of Entertainment, Brand and Creator Revenue
Design Director
Work & culture
Public materials emphasize independence, sharp and uncompromised journalism, a direct relationship with the audience, and a lean, profitable, scrappy media operation that has expanded beyond newsletters into podcasts, video, and events.
Compensation
No public employee salary bands or formal compensation policy were found. Public signals are limited to subscription pricing, revenue estimates, and hiring/expansion announcements rather than employee compensation disclosure.
Product & market
Pricing
Freemium subscription model with a free tier and a paid membership tier; public reporting says the annual price was raised to $169 in 2025, with discounts for students and young professionals and group subscriptions available.
Differentiators
- —Independent, journalist-led coverage rather than studio-adjacent trade reporting
- —Audience relationship built around direct newsletters instead of traffic-chasing
- —Deep focus on the business of Hollywood and entertainment
- —Multi-platform bundle: newsletters, podcasts, video, and live events
- —Insider audience of decision-makers and creators in Hollywood
- —Lean, profitable business with limited headcount
- —Sharper, more opinionated voice than traditional trades
Technology
WordPress
Passport
Substack
WooCommerce
Jetpack
Marfeel
Webpack
Adobe Fonts
jQuery
YouTube Embed
Customers
entertainment CEOs
studio and streamer executives
producers
directors
writers
dealmakers
creative leaders
early-career entertainment professionals
entertainment-industry sponsors
brands/consultancies/banks/airlines seeking access to Hollywood audiences
Competitors
Variety
Deadline Hollywood
The Hollywood Reporter
Puck
The Wrap
Scale & contact
Estimated revenue
$5M-$10M (CEO-reported 2024 revenue; 2025 target around $10M)
Estimated monthly visits
331.3K
Traffic estimate as of Apr 2026
Signals & risks
Latest news
The Ankler · May 2026
The Ankler hired former Wall Street Journal editor Ethan Smith to oversee core newsletters and long-form features, reinforcing its expansion into a broader multi-platform newsroom.
The Ankler · Apr 2026
Ankler Media announced its move off Substack to its own owned-and-operated platform powered by Passport, said it now has 18 full-time staffers, 15 newsletters, and has been profitable since year one.
The Wrap · Apr 2026
Paramount withdrew advertising from The Ankler after Richard Rushfield’s public support for the 'Block the Merger' campaign, creating a notable advertiser-relations risk signal.
The Ankler · Oct 2025
The company rebranded its flagship podcast, expanded audio formats, and continued building around newsletters plus podcast extensions.
The Ankler · Jun 2025
The Ankler brought in Kelly Butler as chief of staff to help manage editorial planning and support the company’s scaling across events and advertising.
Jobs and careers at The Ankler
0 jobs at The Ankler
No open positions
Check back later for new openings