Motor Trend Group

Motor Trend Group, LLC is an enthusiast-media company built around automotive brands and related digital and video properties. Its portfolio has included Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Roadkill, Automobile, and other automotive titles, alongside television programming, websites, events, and subscription video services. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California, and has operated primarily in the United States while distributing content digitally to international audiences. The business developed through a series of ownership and portfolio changes. Its predecessor, Source Interlink Media, operated within Source Interlink, a publishing and magazine-distribution company with interests in automotive, motorcycle, action-sports, and other enthusiast categories. Source Interlink's publishing portfolio included established titles such as Motor Trend and Hot Rod, while its GrindMedia division held a broad collection of action-sports and motorcycle properties. As print economics and distribution challenges intensified, the company reduced the number of magazines it published, closed or sold multiple titles, and placed increasing emphasis on digital publishing and video. In 2014, the publishing operation was reorganized under the TEN: The Enthusiast Network name after Source Interlink's distribution arm moved toward closure. The reorganization followed significant financial and operational pressure in the distribution business, including unpaid amounts reportedly owed by a major publishing customer. TEN subsequently pursued a more digitally oriented model. In 2015, it launched Motor Trend OnDemand, a subscription video-on-demand service aimed specifically at automotive enthusiasts. The service was presented as a premium destination for automotive programming and helped establish the company's direct-to-consumer video strategy. A major corporate change occurred in 2017, when Discovery Communications agreed to acquire a majority stake in TEN and contribute the Velocity automotive cable network to the venture. In 2018, the company adopted the Motor Trend Group name and Velocity was rebranded as MotorTrend. This combination joined a major automotive television network with magazines, websites, video production, and subscription streaming products, creating a broader cross-platform automotive-media operation. Motor Trend Group continued to reshape its portfolio through divestitures and closures. It sold Sound & Vision and Stereophile in 2018, transferred its adventure-sports portfolio in 2019, and discontinued most of its remaining magazines in late 2019, including Automobile. Some properties were later sold, discontinued, or retained in digital and video form. MotorTrend+ eventually ceased as a standalone subscription service in 2024, with most subscribers transferred to Discovery+ according to the referenced company history. The magazine and digital brands MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Roadkill, and Automobile remained among the principal assets associated with the group. In December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery sold Motor Trend Group and most of its assets to Hearst Communications. The transaction returned the automotive enthusiast portfolio to an independently owned media group and placed the business within Hearst's broader magazine and media operations. The company therefore represents both a current corporate brand and the latest stage of a media business that has passed through the Source Interlink, TEN, Discovery, and Warner Bros. Discovery ownership eras.

Motor Trend Group is the latest corporate identity of an automotive and enthusiast-media operation whose roots lie in Source Interlink Media. Source Interlink combined magazine publishing with a large distribution business and built a portfolio covering automotive, motorcycle, action sports, and other enthusiast interests. Motor Trend and Hot Rod were among its best-known automotive properties, while GrindMedia managed various action-sports and motorcycle brands. The company used acquisitions, divestitures, and closures to adjust its portfolio as print circulation and physical distribution became less attractive. In 2012, Source Interlink Media invested in CoverHound, a technology company intended to support online insurance searches. In 2013, GrindMedia completed a portfolio exchange with Bonnier Corporation: several motorcycle titles were sold, while Sound + Vision and the TransWorld brands were acquired. Later that year, the company announced that Skateboarder would cease production, followed by additional title closures in 2014. The most consequential restructuring came in 2014. Source Interlink announced that its distribution arm would soon stop operating after difficulties collecting money from publishing customers. The publishing side was reorganized under the TEN: The Enthusiast Network identity, and numerous titles were closed as the company attempted to operate with a smaller, more sustainable structure. The change shifted strategic attention toward digital audiences, branded content, and video rather than a large-scale physical distribution network. TEN expanded into direct-to-consumer video in 2015 with Motor Trend OnDemand. The service targeted automotive enthusiasts with paid access to specialized programming and was an early example of a niche subscription-video product built around a single enthusiast category. TEN also continued to sell non-core assets, including the AMA EnduroCross Championship, Baseball America, and Slam in 2017. Discovery Communications became the controlling strategic partner in 2017 and contributed Velocity, an automotive cable channel, to the business. In 2018, TEN was renamed Motor Trend Group and Velocity was rebranded as MotorTrend. The transaction created a more integrated automotive-media platform combining television distribution with print, web, and streaming properties. The portfolio was subsequently narrowed. Sound & Vision and Stereophile were sold in 2018, the adventure-sports portfolio was sold in 2019, and most of the remaining magazine titles were discontinued in December 2019. Automobile was among the discontinued publications, although the brand remained associated with the wider Motor Trend Group asset portfolio. Other properties, including Four Wheeler, Bike, Powder, and SUP Stand Up Paddler, were later sold or discontinued, while Roadkill's magazine and web presence also changed over time. Motor Trend Group's streaming strategy changed again in 2024 when MotorTrend+ was discontinued as a standalone service and most subscribers were transferred to Discovery+. In December of the same year, Warner Bros. Discovery sold the group and most of its assets to Hearst Communications. Under Hearst, the business continued as an automotive enthusiast-media portfolio centered on MotorTrend and related editorial and video brands.

• 2024

  Acquired by Hearst Communications

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Bros. Discovery sold Motor Trend Group and most of its assets to Hearst Communications.

• 2019

  Large-scale magazine rationalization

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced that 19 of its 22 magazines would be discontinued, including Automobile.

• 2018

  Motor Trend Group name adopted

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  TEN changed its corporate name to Motor Trend Group and prepared to rebrand Velocity as MotorTrend.

• 2017

  Discovery became majority stakeholder

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Discovery Communications announced an investment in TEN and contributed the Velocity automotive network.

• 2015

  Motor Trend OnDemand launched

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  TEN launched a subscription video service focused on automotive enthusiasts.

• 2014

  Publishing business reorganized as TEN

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following the planned closure of Source Interlink's distribution arm, the publishing operation was reorganized under the TEN: The Enthusiast Network name.

• 2013

  GrindMedia portfolio exchange with Bonnier

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  GrindMedia sold several motorcycle publications to Bonnier and acquired Sound + Vision and the TransWorld brand suite.

• 2012

  Investment in CoverHound

  [1]Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Source Interlink Media made a strategic investment in CoverHound to support online insurance-search functionality.

A specialist enthusiast-media platform serving automotive audiences through a combination of editorial brands, television, digital publishing, and video streaming.

• Automotive media brand

  MotorTrend

  MotorTrend is the group's principal automotive media brand. It has encompassed magazine publishing, online editorial coverage, video programming, television distribution, and branded digital content. The brand covers vehicle reviews, comparisons, performance, buying guidance, motorsports, automotive history, and enthusiast culture. It also served as the identity for the former Velocity television network after the network was rebranded.

• Automotive magazine and digital media

  Hot Rod

  Hot Rod is a long-running automotive enthusiast property associated with high-performance vehicles, hot rods, custom cars, drag racing, engine building, and modification culture. Within Motor Trend Group, it has functioned as a magazine, website, and source of video and event-related content aimed at performance-oriented enthusiasts.

• Automotive video and digital media

  Roadkill

  Roadkill is an automotive entertainment property centered on informal vehicle builds, road trips, mechanical challenges, and enthusiast-oriented video storytelling. It has existed as a web and video brand as well as a magazine property. The magazine ceased publication in 2018, while the web show and related digital output continued to change over time.

• Automotive magazine and digital media

  Automobile

  Automobile was an automotive magazine and editorial brand within the company's portfolio. It focused on vehicle design, industry coverage, reviews, road tests, and automotive culture. The print magazine was among the titles discontinued during the company's major 2019 portfolio reduction, although the name remained listed among the group's associated assets in the later ownership transition.

• Subscription video-on-demand service · 2015

  Motor Trend OnDemand

  Motor Trend OnDemand was a direct-to-consumer subscription video service launched by TEN for automotive enthusiasts. It provided specialized automotive programming and represented the company's effort to build a paid digital relationship with its audience. The service was later associated with the MotorTrend+ offering, which was discontinued as a standalone service in 2024.

• 2024

  Sell Motor Trend Group to HearstM&A

  Background

  Warner Bros. Discovery reviewed and divested the automotive enthusiast-media operation and most of its associated assets.

  Action taken

  Warner Bros. Discovery sold Motor Trend Group to Hearst Communications.

  Aftermath

  The business moved into Hearst's privately held media portfolio, with MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Roadkill, and Automobile among the included brands.

  Source

• 2019

  Discontinue most remaining magazinesStrategy

  Background

  The company continued to reduce its print exposure and focus resources on fewer brands and digital and video channels.

  Action taken

  Motor Trend Group announced that 19 of its 22 magazines would be discontinued, including Automobile.

  Aftermath

  The decision substantially narrowed the magazine portfolio and accelerated the transition toward digital, television, and streaming products.

  Source

• 2017

  Combine TEN with Velocity under DiscoveryM&A

  Background

  Discovery Communications sought a larger automotive-focused platform spanning television, digital publishing, and direct-to-consumer video.

  Action taken

  Discovery announced a majority investment in TEN and contributed the Velocity automotive cable network to the venture.

  Aftermath

  The combined operation adopted the Motor Trend Group name in 2018, and Velocity was rebranded as MotorTrend.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch Motor Trend OnDemandProduct launch

  Background

  TEN sought to serve automotive enthusiasts through a direct-to-consumer video product at a time when niche subscription streaming was expanding.

  Action taken

  The company launched Motor Trend OnDemand as a subscription video-on-demand service.

  Aftermath

  The launch established automotive streaming as a central part of the company's multi-platform strategy and later evolved into the MotorTrend+ offering.

  Source

• 2014

  Close the Source Interlink distribution armStrategy

  Background

  The distribution business faced serious payment and operating difficulties, including reported unpaid amounts connected with magazine sales.

  Action taken

  Source Interlink announced that its distribution arm would soon cease operations and reorganized the publishing business under the TEN: The Enthusiast Network name.

  Aftermath

  The company reduced its print portfolio, carried out layoffs, and placed greater emphasis on digital publishing and video.

  Source

• Unconfirmed

  MotorTrend acquires exclusive streaming rights to Blink of an Eye[2]MotorTrend获得《Blink of an Eye》独家流媒体播放权thefutoncritic.com

  MotorTrend Group announced that it acquired exclusive streaming rights to the documentary Blink of an Eye, which was scheduled to stream on the MotorTrend App beginning February 3, 2020.

1. 1Motor Trend Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2MotorTrend获得《Blink of an Eye》独家流媒体播放权thefutoncritic.com