NEW YORK — James Murdoch has agreed to acquire half of Vox Media through his company Lupa Systems in a deal valued at about $300 million. The transaction will give Lupa Systems control of New York Magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand, with Vox Media expecting the sale to close within four to six weeks.

The acquisition includes the digital vertical sites The Cut, Vulture, Intelligencer, The Strategist, Curbed and Grub Street. Lupa Systems will not acquire certain other Vox Media properties, including Eater, PopSugar, SB Nation, The Dodo and The Verge. The acquired divisions will operate as a subsidiary called Vox Media under Lupa Systems.

"I am not looking to acquire a daily news business but want longer-form, thoughtful journalism that can really speak to the culture." said James Murdoch, founder and CEO of Lupa Systems. "We want to create platforms where really amazing, talented people can come and do the best work of their lives." he said.

Jim Bankoff will continue to lead the brands under the Vox Media label as part of Lupa Systems. "Separating into two distinct companies best sets up our brands, shows, businesses, talent, and teams to continue to lead and prosper in the changing media landscape," said Bankoff, CEO of Vox Media.

The Vox Media Podcast Network includes shows such as Criminal and Where Should We Begin?, as well as a podcast co-hosted by Scott Galloway. Podcasts reach 58% of Americans monthly, including two out of three people between the ages of 18 and 54, according to Edison Research. Galloway said in a podcast interview, "James is the only Murdoch that this deal could have happened with." He added, "In a company like Vox, if its talent doesn't like something, it's not gonna happen."

Lupa Systems was founded by Murdoch in March 2019 and holds stakes in Art Basel, Tribeca Enterprises and Bodhi Tree Systems. Murdoch served as CEO of 21st Century Fox from 2015 to 2019 and resigned from the board of News Corp in 2020, citing disagreements over certain editorial content. In September 2025, the Murdoch family settled a legal dispute that left Lachlan Murdoch in control of voting shares of News Corp and Fox Corp, with James Murdoch, Prudence MacLeod and Elisabeth Murdoch each receiving about $1.1 billion.

Rupert Murdoch previously owned New York Magazine from 1976 until 1991. Penske Media Corp invested $100 million in Vox Media for a 20% stake in 2023, and Vox Media merged with Group Nine Media in December 2021. LionTree acted as financial adviser to Vox Media in connection with the transaction, and law firm Gibson Dunn advised Lupa Systems on the deal.