Sports Illustrated, the renowned American sports magazine, is facing further turmoil after the media company responsible for publishing it lost its license to do so. This has led to concerns among staff about potential mass layoffs and an uncertain future for the magazine. However, the owner of Sports Illustrated, Authentic Brands Group, has stated that the brand, including its editorial arm, will continue to exist. The publisher, Arena Group, has confirmed that discussions regarding the license are ongoing, but they acknowledge that they are not the only party involved in these negotiations.

Sports Illustrated, which was established in 1954, has long been a prominent title in American sports journalism. It gained recognition for its ability to use sports as a platform to explore broader societal issues. The magazine’s covers were highly coveted by athletes, and its swimsuit issues often sparked discussions. However, like many other print publications, Sports Illustrated has faced challenges as readers and advertisers increasingly shift their attention to online platforms.

Authentic Brands Group, known for acquiring distressed brands and licensing them to operators, purchased Sports Illustrated in 2019 for $110 million. Earlier this month, they informed Arena Group of their intention to cancel their deal after Arena failed to make a $3.75 million payment. Authentic Brands Group has expressed its commitment to preserving the integrity of the brand’s legacy. Meanwhile, Arena Group’s spokeswoman has stated that they will continue to produce Sports Illustrated until the licensing issue is resolved. However, Arena Group currently owes Authentic Brands Group a $45 million fee due to the cancellation.

Arena Group, which also publishes smaller titles such as Men’s Journal and Parade, has faced its own share of challenges, including a scandal last year in which Sports Illustrated was accused of publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence. The company removed the articles and launched an investigation, attributing the content to another firm that collaborates with e-commerce companies. As a result, several executives, including former CEO Ross Levinsohn, were fired. On Thursday, Arena Group announced plans to cut over 100 jobs, citing substantial debt and missed payments.

The union representing Sports Illustrated staff has expressed its concerns about the magazine’s future and has called on Authentic Brands Group to ensure its continued publication. Arena Group, on the other hand, has been attempting to secure a deal to be acquired by another media company. The company’s shares, which were trading at over $9 a year ago, have plummeted by more than a third to less than $1.

Original news source: Sports Illustrated in further turmoil after AI scandal (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group should read the article and then work together to write a concise summary of the news, highlighting the key points and main events. Afterward, each group can present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class take a poll to gauge their opinions on the future of Sports Illustrated. Give students a few minutes to consider their stance and then ask them to vote by raising their hand for one of the following options: optimistic, pessimistic, unsure. Once the votes are tallied, ask a few students from each category to explain their reasoning.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a different word from the list. One student from each pair will have to draw the word while their partner tries to guess it. Encourage students to use their creativity and think of different ways to depict the words.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One partner will have one minute to summarize the article to their partner. After one minute, the roles will switch, and the other partner will have one minute to summarize. Encourage students to focus on the main points and to be concise in their summaries.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students create attention-grabbing headlines for the article. They can use puns, wordplay, or catchy phrases to make their headlines stand out. Afterward, each group can share their headline with the class and explain why they chose it.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the current turmoil facing Sports Illustrated?
2. How long has Sports Illustrated been a prominent title in American sports journalism?
3. Why has Sports Illustrated faced challenges in recent years?
4. What is Authentic Brands Group known for?
5. Why did Authentic Brands Group inform Arena Group of their intention to cancel their deal?
6. What challenges has Arena Group faced in the past?
7. What concerns has the union representing Sports Illustrated staff expressed?
8. How much have Arena Group’s shares dropped in value in the past year?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ Illustrated, the renowned American sports magazine, is facing further turmoil after the media company responsible for publishing it lost its license to do so. This has led to concerns among staff about potential mass layoffs and an uncertain future for the magazine. However, the (2)______ of Sports Illustrated, Authentic (3)______ Group, has stated that the brand, including its editorial arm, will continue to exist. The publisher, Arena Group, has confirmed that discussions regarding the license are ongoing, but they acknowledge that they are not the only party involved in these negotiations.

Sports Illustrated, which was established in 1954, has long been a (4)______ title in American sports (5)______. It gained recognition for its ability to use sports as a platform to explore broader societal issues. The magazine’s covers were highly coveted by athletes, and its swimsuit issues often sparked (6)______. However, like many other print publications, Sports Illustrated has faced challenges as readers and advertisers increasingly shift their attention to online platforms.

Authentic Brands Group, known for (7)______ distressed brands and licensing them to operators, purchased Sports Illustrated in 2019 for $110 million. Earlier this month, they (8)______ Arena Group of their intention to cancel their deal after Arena failed to make a $3.75 million payment. (9)______ Brands Group has expressed its commitment to preserving the integrity of the brand’s legacy. Meanwhile, (10)______ Group’s spokeswoman has stated that they will (11)______ to produce Sports Illustrated until the licensing issue is (12)______. However, Arena Group currently owes Authentic Brands Group a $45 million fee due to the cancellation.

Arena Group, which also publishes smaller titles such as Men’s Journal and Parade, has faced its own share of challenges, including a scandal last year in which Sports Illustrated was accused of publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence. The company removed the articles and launched an investigation, attributing the content to another firm that collaborates with e-commerce companies. As a result, several executives, including former CEO Ross (13)______, were fired. On Thursday, Arena Group announced plans to cut over 100 jobs, (14)______ substantial debt and missed payments.

The union representing Sports Illustrated staff has expressed its concerns about the magazine’s (15)______ and has called on Authentic Brands Group to ensure its continued publication. Arena Group, on the other hand, has been attempting to secure a deal to be acquired by another media company. The company’s shares, which were (16)______ at over $9 a year ago, have plummeted by more than a third to less than $1.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the future of print publications like Sports Illustrated in the digital age?
2. How would you feel if you were an employee of Sports Illustrated and facing potential mass layoffs?
3. Do you think the acquisition of distressed brands by companies like Authentic Brands Group is a sustainable business model? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the challenges faced by print publications in competing with online platforms?
5. How important do you think it is for a brand like Sports Illustrated to preserve its legacy and integrity?
6. Do you think the scandal involving the publication of articles generated by artificial intelligence damaged the reputation of Sports Illustrated? Why or why not?
7. What role do you think magazines like Sports Illustrated play in exploring broader societal issues through the lens of sports?
8. How do you think the shift to online platforms has affected the relationship between readers and print publications?
9. Do you think the union representing Sports Illustrated staff is justified in expressing concerns about the magazine’s future? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the uncertainty surrounding the licensing issue will impact the overall perception of Sports Illustrated?
11. What is your opinion on companies like Arena Group attempting to secure deals to be acquired by other media companies?
12. How do you think the financial challenges faced by Arena Group will impact its ability to produce other titles like Men’s Journal and Parade?
13. Do you think the acquisition of Sports Illustrated by Authentic Brands Group was a good investment? Why or why not?
14. How important do you think it is for media companies to adapt to changing consumer preferences and behaviors?
15. What do you think the future holds for print publications like Sports Illustrated?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. turmoil
2. layoffs
3. coveted
4. swimsuit
5. advertisers
6. distressed
7. integrity
8. spokeswoman
9. scandal
10. artificial
11. executives
12. substantial
13. debt
14. plummeted
15. acquisition

Meanings:
(A) Large in size, value, or importance
(B) Not occurring naturally; created by human design or technology
(C) Money that is owed or due
(D) High-ranking officials in a business or organization
(E) An event or action that causes public outrage or censure
(F) The act of acquiring something, typically a company by purchase
(G) A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
(H) Dropped sharply and suddenly in value or amount
(I) Greatly desired or envied, often due to prestige or quality
(J) Dismissals from employment, typically due to economic or business reasons
(K) The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
(L) A female representative or official who speaks on behalf of an organization
(M) Clothing designed for swimming
(N) Individuals or companies that pay to promote their products or services
(O) Experiencing problems or difficulties, often financial
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is the owner of Sports Illustrated?
(a) Arena Group
(b) Authentic Brands Group
(c) Men’s Journal
(d) Parade

2. When was Sports Illustrated established?
(a) 1960
(b) 1975
(c) 1982
(d) 1954

3. What is Authentic Brands Group known for?
(a) Acquiring distressed brands
(b) Publishing print publications
(c) Investigating scandals
(d) Collaborating with e-commerce companies

4. How much did Authentic Brands Group purchase Sports Illustrated for?
(a) $3.75 million
(b) $45 million
(c) $9
(d) $110 million

5. What did Arena Group fail to do that led to the cancellation of their deal with Authentic Brands Group?
(a) Produce Sports Illustrated covers
(b) Investigate the scandal
(c) Make a $3.75 million payment
(d) Secure a deal to be acquired by another media company

6. What scandal did Sports Illustrated face last year?
(a) Firing several executives
(b) Cutting over 100 jobs
(c) Publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence
(d) Missing payments

7. What is the current value of Arena Group’s shares?
(a) Less than $1
(b) Over $9
(c) $110 million
(d) More than $3.75 million

8. What has the union representing Sports Illustrated staff called on Authentic Brands Group to do?
(a) Investigate the scandal
(b) Ensure the magazine’s continued publication
(c) Secure a deal to be acquired by another media company
(d) Cut over 100 jobs

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Arena Group owes Authentic Brands Group a $45 million fee due to the cancellation.
2. The publisher of Sports Illustrated, Arena Group, has denied that discussions regarding the license are ongoing.
3. Authentic Brands Group sold Sports Illustrated in 2019 for $110 million.
4. Authentic Brands Group intends to cancel their deal with Arena Group after a missed payment.
5. The media company responsible for publishing Sports Illustrated has obtained its license to do so.
6. Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Sports Illustrated, has stated that the brand will continue to exist.
7. Arena Group has faced challenges, including a scandal involving articles generated by artificial intelligence.
8. Staff at Sports Illustrated are unconcerned about potential mass layoffs and a certain future for the magazine.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the current situation facing Sports Illustrated and its staff?
2. Who is the owner of Sports Illustrated and what is their stance on the magazine’s future?
3. Why has Sports Illustrated faced challenges in recent years?
4. How did Authentic Brands Group acquire Sports Illustrated and what issues have arisen from this acquisition?
5. What challenges has Arena Group faced, and what steps have they taken to address them?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The current turmoil facing Sports Illustrated is that the media company responsible for publishing it lost its license to do so.
2. Sports Illustrated has been a prominent title in American sports journalism since it was established in 1954.
3. Sports Illustrated has faced challenges in recent years as readers and advertisers increasingly shift their attention to online platforms.
4. Authentic Brands Group is known for acquiring distressed brands and licensing them to operators.
5. Authentic Brands Group informed Arena Group of their intention to cancel their deal because Arena failed to make a $3.75 million payment.
6. Arena Group has faced challenges including a scandal in which Sports Illustrated was accused of publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence and substantial debt and missed payments.
7. The union representing Sports Illustrated staff has expressed concerns about the magazine’s future and has called on Authentic Brands Group to ensure its continued publication.
8. Arena Group’s shares have dropped in value by more than a third to less than $1 in the past year.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sports
(2) owner
(3) Brands
(4) prominent
(5) journalism
(6) discussions
(7) acquiring
(8) informed
(9) Authentic
(10) Arena
(11) continue
(12) resolved
(13) Levinsohn
(14) citing
(15) future
(16) trading
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. turmoil
Answer: (G) A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty

2. layoffs
Answer: (J) Dismissals from employment, typically due to economic or business reasons

3. coveted
Answer: (I) Greatly desired or envied, often due to prestige or quality

4. swimsuit
Answer: (M) Clothing designed for swimming

5. advertisers
Answer: (N) Individuals or companies that pay to promote their products or services

6. distressed
Answer: (O) Experiencing problems or difficulties, often financial

7. integrity
Answer: (K) The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

8. spokeswoman
Answer: (L) A female representative or official who speaks on behalf of an organization

9. scandal
Answer: (E) An event or action that causes public outrage or censure

10. artificial
Answer: (B) Not occurring naturally; created by human design or technology

11. executives
Answer: (D) High-ranking officials in a business or organization

12. substantial
Answer: (A) Large in size, value, or importance

13. debt
Answer: (C) Money that is owed or due

14. plummeted
Answer: (H) Dropped sharply and suddenly in value or amount

15. acquisition
Answer: (F) The act of acquiring something, typically a company by purchase
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is the owner of Sports Illustrated?
Answer: (b) Authentic Brands Group

2. When was Sports Illustrated established?
Answer: (d) 1954

3. What is Authentic Brands Group known for?
Answer: (a) Acquiring distressed brands

4. How much did Authentic Brands Group purchase Sports Illustrated for?
Answer: (d) $110 million

5. What did Arena Group fail to do that led to the cancellation of their deal with Authentic Brands Group?
Answer: (c) Make a $3.75 million payment

6. What scandal did Sports Illustrated face last year?
Answer: (c) Publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence

7. What is the current value of Arena Group’s shares?
Answer: (a) Less than $1

8. What has the union representing Sports Illustrated staff called on Authentic Brands Group to do?
Answer: (b) Ensure the magazine’s continued publication
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Arena Group owes Authentic Brands Group a $45 million fee due to the cancellation. (Answer: True)
2. The publisher of Sports Illustrated, Arena Group, has denied that discussions regarding the license are ongoing. (Answer: False)
3. Authentic Brands Group sold Sports Illustrated in 2019 for $110 million. (Answer: False)
4. Authentic Brands Group intends to cancel their deal with Arena Group after a missed payment. (Answer: True)
5. The media company responsible for publishing Sports Illustrated has obtained its license to do so. (Answer: False)
6. Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Sports Illustrated, has stated that the brand will continue to exist. (Answer: True)
7. Arena Group has faced challenges, including a scandal involving articles generated by artificial intelligence. (Answer: True)
8. Staff at Sports Illustrated are unconcerned about potential mass layoffs and a certain future for the magazine. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧