Static Media

Static Media Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Internet media, digital advertising
Founded	2012 (2012)
Headquarters	Indianapolis , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Allaya Cooks-Campbell (lead editor for Islands and Explore)
Products	ZergNet, Looper, Chowhound, Cuteness, Explore, /Film, Food Republic, Foodie, Mashed, Tasting Table, The Daily Meal, The Takeout, Glam.com, Grunge, Health Digest, House Digest, Hunker, Islands, Outdoor Guide, Jalopnik, Money Digest, Nicki Swift, Sciencing, SlashGear, SVG, The List, Women.com, Wrestling Inc.
Parent	7Hops.com Inc.

Static Media Inc., operating under the corporate name 7Hops.com Inc., is a U.S.-based internet enterprise established in 2012, incorporated in Delaware, and headquartered in Indianapolis. The company manages ZergNet, a platform specializing in content recommendations that amplify paid content distribution across its portfolio of brands. A majority of the sites owned by Static Media utilize an "infinite scroll" interface, which continuously loads new content as visitors navigate downward, thereby boosting user engagement by enabling uninterrupted exploration of articles without the need for pagination. This user experience strategy is notably implemented by the Looper brand.

ZergNet

Founded circa 2011, ZergNet operates by integrating paid link placements within external online articles, mirroring the business models of competitors such as Outbrain and Taboola. Its investment backing includes notable figures like Mark Cuban and venture firm Greycroft Partners.

Owned or associated websites

Static Media's ownership and promotion extend to a wide array of entertainment and lifestyle digital properties, including:

• Chowhound – culinary history and recipe content
• Cuteness – advice on pet care
• Explore – travel-related news and guidance
• /Film – updates and critiques on cinema
• Food Republic, Foodie, Mashed, Tasting Table, The Daily Meal, The Takeout – various food-centric platforms
• Glam.com – covering beauty, fashion, wellness, and women’s lifestyle topics
• Grunge – content spanning history, entertainment, science, and sports
• Health Digest – news focused on health
• House Digest, Hunker – home improvement and lifestyle themes
• Islands, Outdoor Guide – travel and outdoor lifestyle coverage
• Jalopnik – automotive industry news
• Looper – news and reviews related to film, television, and video games
• Money Digest – financial reporting
• Nicki Swift – celebrity news and gossip
• Sciencing – science, mathematics, and technology insights
• SlashGear – trends in personal technology
• SVG – video gaming news
• The List, Women.com – women’s lifestyle content
• Wrestling Inc. – professional wrestling and combat sports coverage

Company history

Looper was Static Media’s inaugural acquisition in 2015. The company introduced original brands such as Mashed, Nicki Swift, Grunge, and The List in 2016; SVG was added in 2017. SlashGear, originally launched in 2005, joined the portfolio following 2015. Health Digest debuted as an original Static Media brand in 2020 with early reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak.

In 2021, Static Media broadened its reach by acquiring Tasting Table (established in 2008) and /Film (founded in 2005), alongside launching House Digest as an original property. The year 2022 saw acquisitions of Wrestling Inc. (since 1996), Glam (since 2003), and The Daily Meal (since 2011), while Explore was introduced late that year as a travel-focused original brand.

Women.com (originating in 1995) became part of Static’s holdings in early 2023; Food Republic (established 2010) followed later that year. In September 2023, Foodie was launched, expanding the company’s collection of food-related brands to four.

Marking its entry into financial journalism, Static Media launched Money Digest in October 2023. That same month also saw the debut of Outdoor Guide, dedicated to outdoor living topics. Early November 2023 featured the relaunch of Chowhound (initially founded in 1997).

In early 2024, Static introduced Islands—an exotic travel brand with origins tracing back to a print magazine founded in 1981—and appointed Allaya Cooks-Campbell as lead editor overseeing both Islands and Explore. The year also included acquisitions of The Takeout (launched 2016) and the automotive blog Jalopnik.

October 2024 brought the acquisition of Hunker from Graham Holdings Corporation, emphasizing home improvement and lifestyle content. Additionally, Static initiated Cuteness targeting pet owners. On November 3, 2024, Sciencing officially launched under Static’s management; this site has provided science, math, and technology coverage since 2006.