Technically Philly » blogging

Beerleaguer reportedly purchased by Comcast SportsNet

Christopher Wink — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:00:57 +0000

In March, Comcast SportsNet purchased Philadelphia sports blog The700level.com. Three months later, CSN has apparently made another move.

Last week, Jason Weitzel, the founder of seven-year-old Phillies blog Beerleaguer.com, announced that his site had been acquired for an undisclosed sum.

Like in the 700 Level deal, the property was bought out entirely though it will retain editorial control and its founder was given a position with CSN.

Weitzel, who spent eight years at the Reading Eagle newspaper, most recently at readingeagle.com, says he left to take a content manager position with Comcast Sports Group. But he says he’s not worried about stepping on the toes of Enrico Campitelli, the 29-year-old founder of the 700 Level.

Brownstoner, Brooklyn real estate blog, launches in Philly

Christopher Wink — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:30:06 +0000

Something about “rowhouser” didn’t sound right to Jonathan Butler.

So today, the founder of popular Brooklyn real estate, renovation and restaurant blog Brownstoner, launches a Philadelphia edition under the same brand. That expansion, Butler says, will dictate greatly the direction of the five-year-old site.

Launched in October 2004, Brownstoner is no small force, pulling roughly 200,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million page views a month, Butler says — see the always debated public traffic figures for the site from Quantcast and Compete — and it just so happens to not be the only blog born in New York to open up shop in Philadelphia this year.

Like Midtown Lunch, Brownstoner brings a brand name with a decidedly New York tone to a city not known for a healthy appreciation for its younger brother to the north. So, its expansion just might make for a hell of a conversation on authenticity and the future of growing hyperlocal news. And it all came about because one of the site’s contributors wanted to move.

Comcast SportsNet purchases sports blog The700level

Christopher Wink — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:14:55 +0000

Comcast SportsNet has purchased The700level.com for an undisclosed sum, the popular sports blog announced on its site today.

Launching in January 2004, the blog will become a CSN property, though founder Enrico Campitelli Jr., 29, will be brought on as a full-time employee to edit and oversee the product. The site’s other contributors will be used as freelancers.

“We’ve been doing it a long time and I like to think we do it pretty well. But there were maybe two or three other Philly sports blogs in existence when I started. Now there are hundreds,” Campitelli says in his announcement. “This move allows us to not only differentiate, but to also put my undivided attention and effort into making this site a must visit destination for Philly sports fans.

Philadelphia magazine launches blog Philly Post

Christopher Wink — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:45:08 +0000

Updated 3/10/10 @ 12:17 p.m.: Added item from comment field

Philadelphia magazine wants to get back into the daily conversation.

The century-old glossy publication and regional staple has launched a general interest blog, the Philly Post.

�The goal is to be in touch with our audience not just monthly, as we are with the magazine, but daily,� said Editor-in-Chief Larry Platt in a release. The platform is WordPress-based.

Phillymag Executive Editor Tom McGrath will take the helm of the project. McGrath told Technically Philly that the venture will follow top stories in the region, use both original reporting and aggregation and will include pieces from both staffers and contributors in a Huffington Post-like structure.