Exhibit 99.1

Maven Announces Broad Cost-Containment Initiative Including 9% Staff Layoff

Letter to employees outlines response to economic downturn triggered by pandemic

SEATTLE – Maven Media Brands today announced a wide-ranging cost-containment plan to get ahead of the economic tumult triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic and ensure the ongoing strength of the company.

The initiative includes a staff reduction of 31 people (9 percent of the 332-person workforce); a 30-percent cut in senior management compensation; and accelerated efficiencies in non-payroll expenses. In addition, the company has secured a $12 million line of credit from B. Riley Financial.

CEO James Heckman elaborated on Maven’s plans in a comprehensive letter to employees, which you may read here.

About Maven

Maven (maven.io) is a coalition of Mavens, from individual thought leaders to world-leading independent publishers, operating on a shared digital publishing, monetization and distribution platform, unified under a single media brand. Sports Illustrated is operated by Maven as part of its coalition. Based in Seattle, Maven is publicly traded under the ticker symbol MVEN.

Further inquiries: Greg Witter press@maven.io

To Everyone on the Maven Team:

First and foremost, we hope you and your family are safe during this incredibly difficult time as we all face the challenge of the novel coronavirus. Your work has been superb under unprecedented, challenging circumstances and, for many of you, while experiencing wholesale structural changes to your lives and the way you do business. Rallying to deliver outstanding experiences for consumers while working remotely is a testament to your commitment to your profession and fellow team members.

As our normal way of life and doing business has been dramatically disrupted, so has the entire media industry, including advertising budgets. While our unique visitors, engagement, video views, and partner signings are strong and continue to grow efficiently, the industry is seeing a dramatic pullback in “sponsorship” budgets and a 40% decrease in programmatic CPMs. Major events such as March Madness and the Olympic Games, as well as the entire sports season, have been lost.

As a result, and after consulting senior agency executives and analyzing pricing data across the industry and Maven’s 300 media properties, we’re anticipating a $30 million reduction in revenue for 2020, comprised of a $17 million reduction in sponsorship sales, $10 million reduction in programmatic CPM-driven sales, and $3 million in other revenue initiatives, such as events. As discussed on our recent company call, Maven’s model was “built for” the transition of media models from old to new, thus, we believe we are well positioned to grow brands, journalism, and monetization. However, during this accelerated transformation, we must manage our operating budget with care.

And so reluctantly, but appropriately, we’re taking decisive steps to ensure stability and long-term sustainability by reducing our annual operating budget by $19 million dollars, as follows:

In addition, Maven has secured a $12 million credit facility with B. Riley Financial, to provide a financial buffer in case economic matters deteriorate further. We’re grateful for their confidence in our business model and more-than-fair terms - pushing out maturity and payments past one year, including current debt - with the goal of helping us to continue to run fast and safe as we run lean.

The hardest, sobering reality is that we are letting go of 31 friends, colleagues, and trusted professionals at the worst possible time for them. Our hearts ache for them and their families. This is especially difficult to digest because of the speed of the global economic downturn. No words can soothe the pain of losing a job, but please reach out to those you know and stay connected.

At the same time, our duty and responsibility is to provide a stable future for our remaining 300 team members and to the future of a business that is sustaining hundreds of struggling media companies and journalists that would be at risk of job loss or insolvency. We have a duty to journalism and to each other to survive and thrive, and that we plan to do.

Our actions today are comprehensive, were carefully planned, and not part of a piecemeal or rushed reaction. We started the process and acted as soon as we saw the crisis escalating. Our revised budget plan is anticipatory, and gets ahead of the curve in a surgical way. We wish we could change the circumstances, but we are now positioned — with a talented, experienced team, diverse revenue streams, and a powerful business platform — to weather the ongoing COVID-19 storm and help independent media companies who are not.

I cannot thank each of you enough for your dedication, professionalism, resourcefulness, and passion for the work you do. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or your departmental leaders if you have questions or concerns.

Thanks for all you do.

James Heckman

Maven CEO