TVLine

History

In late 2010, Entertainment Weeklys Michael Ausiello announced that he would be leaving EW after nearly two years in their employ to establish a TV-centered website with PMC, the media company founded by Jay Penske. He later announced that fellow EW writer Michael Slezak, E! Online's Megan Masters, and TV Guides Matt Mitovich would be joining him in the venture.

The site debuted January 5, 2011, and more than tripled initial expectations for internet traffic in its first six days.

In early 2011 a report by TV by the Numbers analyzed the pageview ratings for four television websites: TVLine, its sister site Deadline, TheWrap, and TV by the Numbers itself. With a high of just over 1 million daily pageviews, TVLine beat all three competitors. A similar report in summer 2012 compared TVLine again to three other websites: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and HitFix. TVLine hit a high of approximately 23 million monthly pageviews, second only to The Hollywood Reporter.

In August 2025, Penske Media Corporation sold the site to Static Media, with the original founder Michael Ausiello and Chief Content Officer Matt Mitovich departing the site.

Audience and reach

Until 2025, PMC claimed that TVLine attracted approximately 12 million unique digital unique users, around 364 million video views, and a social media presence with about 1.6 million followers across various platforms.

References

References

1. (2010-12-10). "Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak Joins Michael Ausiello at TVLine.com". [[PMC (company).
2. Finke, Nikki. (2011-01-17). "ADVISORY: Check Out New TVLine.com".
3. Seidman, Robert. (May 20, 2011). "Michael Ausiello's TVLine Already Bigger Than Nikki Finke's Deadline". [[TV by the Numbers]].
4. Seidman, Robert. (October 9, 2012). "Lost in the PMC/Finke/Deadline/Variety News: Michael Ausiello's TVLine is a Traffic Powerhouse". [[TV by the Numbers]].
5. Spangler, Todd. (2025-08-25). "TVLine Acquired by Static Media".
6. Patton, Benjamin Lindsay and Tess. (2025-08-25). "Penske Sells TVLine to Static Media".
7. NJ.com, Amy Kuperinsky {{!}} NJ Advance Media for. (2025-08-26). "N.J. founder of TV news source says goodbye to website after 14-plus years, sale to new company".
8. "TVLine {{!}} PMC".