Ziff Davis is a digital media and internet company that operates a portfolio of content brands and software services across five segments. The core business is publishing editorial content online across technology, gaming, health and wellness, and shopping, and monetizing that content through advertising and affiliate commerce. Key brands include CNET, PCMag, and ZDNET for tech reviews; IGN for gaming; Everyday Health and BabyCenter for health and wellness; and RetailMeNot for coupons and deals. Ziff Davis sells advertising directly to endemic brand advertisers — primarily pharma, consumer tech, and gaming companies — who want to reach specific, high-intent audiences, commanding premium pricing over programmatic inventory. Affiliate commerce commissions are earned when users click through to merchants and make purchases. Beyond digital media, Ziff Davis operates Ookla, a data-as-a-service business selling broadband and mobile network performance analytics to ISPs, carriers, and regulators, anchored by the Speedtest platform. Ziff Davis also sells cybersecurity and marketing software to SMBs under brands including VIPRE and MOZ. Advertising and performance marketing account for roughly 60% of revenue, with subscriptions and licensing making up most of the remainder. Ziff Davis has completed nearly 100 acquisitions since 2012, deploying roughly $3.3B, and treats M&A as its primary growth engine. The company is also pursuing a strategic review to evaluate potential asset sales, spinoffs, or other transactions.
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