The Ankler began as a simple, sharp idea almost a decade ago: a direct, unfiltered and uncompromised line into Hollywood. Richard’s weekly newsletter fed an audience hungry for clear-eyed reporting, candid analysis and a voice unafraid to say what others wouldn’t.
Then Janice came along in 2022, convincing Richard he had built the foundation for something much bigger — a chance to super-serve an audience of entertainment professionals whose industry was shifting beneath their feet. Trustworthy information would never have a higher premium.
Four years in, that vision has grown into the Ankler Media of today: a multi-platform editorial operation, with 18 full-time staffers and contributors across the globe.
We now publish 15 newsletters, alongside podcasts, video and sophisticated live events, with an expanding scope of coverage and ambitious new launches still ahead. Our subscriber base continues to grow — up 13 percent year over year, part of a trajectory that has seen Ankler Media grow every single month in subscribers and revenue since launch. Incredibly, some of our fastest growth has come in 2026 alone. We are proud that we have been profitable since year one as we build a top-in-class media business that is sustainable and thriving.
Our rapid growth fundamentally has changed what The Ankler — and Ankler Media — are. Which brings us to today: The Ankler has moved off Substack and on to a new, independent platform — with our own owned-and-operated site and subscription infrastructure. Our subscriber backend is powered by Passport, a new joint product between Automattic and Ben Thompson of Stratechery.
This transition marks a defining moment in what has been underway: a move beyond newsletters into a fully integrated media company, now all brought together in a single, easy-to-navigate home. To us, if the first wave of newsletters in media was about supporting independent creators, the next wave is about building durable businesses.
We want to be clear about what is not changing:
- The Ankler’s voice is not changing.
- Our coverage is not changing.
- The journalists you rely on are not changing.
- The sensibility and ethos that define The Ankler will only get better.
So why make this move?
More control over our platform allows us to better expand coverage and improve the subscriber experience: a more refined design, a single sign-on and everything across Ankler Media living under one roof.
It also gives you — our audience — more control over how you engage with us and what you receive in your inbox, along with more flexible subscription options. Starting today, you can subscribe to Series Business and Sean McNulty’s The Wakeup as standalone products if you choose.
For subscribers, the transition should feel seamless. You’ll continue to receive The Ankler in your inbox. Your subscription continues uninterrupted.
We want to acknowledge our deep gratitude to Substack and its co-founder Hamish McKenzie, who played an important role in getting us here. Hamish introduced us to Y Combinator, which provided the initial funding for Ankler Media that helped our company get off the ground. Substack was instrumental in The Ankler’s early growth and will remain an important part of our ecosystem. We’ll maintain a presence there, including a weekly newsletter and live video. And yes, you heard it here first, Richard will continue to represent Ankler Media on Substack with a new, even more unfiltered newsletter — we’ll have more to share on that front soon.
In the coming months, two of Ankler Media’s standalone publications — The Optionist and Like & Subscribe — also will be migrating off Substack and onto this new platform.
This next chapter is about continuing to build what has always made us essential: independent, authoritative coverage of an industry in flux. Hollywood is in the middle of profound transformation, and the need for clear, candid, fair and deeply reported journalism has never been greater.
We’re committed to meeting that moment, your moment, and remain grateful to you for being part of the first four years — and for joining us as we build what comes next.
With appreciation,
Janice Min & Richard Rushfield
