Type of site

Celebrity news

Available in

English

Owner

American Media Inc.

URL

radaronline.com

Commercial

Yes

Registration

Optional

Launched

• 2003 (print magazine)

• (ceased in 2008)

• 2009 (website)

Radar Online is an American entertainment and gossip website. The print magazine Radar was founded by Maer Roshan and first published in September 2003,[1] with the website RadarOnline.com launching in 2005.[2] After the print magazine shuttered in 2008, the website was acquired by American Media Inc. (now A360 Media) in 2008,[3][4] where Dylan Howard oversaw the publication at various times from 2010 to 2020.[5][6] In 2021, Empire Media Group acquired the site from A360 Media and returned control to Howard.[7]

History

Print magazine and website (2003-2008)

Radar published articles on entertainment, fashion, politics, and human interest and was founded and edited by Maer Roshan in September 2003 with two test issues. The magazine relaunched in 2005 with help from investors and family members, including Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman and pre-scandal [Jeffrey Edward Epstein (born 1953)],[8][9] but folded again after three issues.[10][11] While the official statement blamed "the current economic environment",[12] some sources speculated it was linked to Zuckerman learning of the [Jeffrey Edward Epstein (born 1953)] investigation.[13]

In 2006, the magazine was revived again, this time with backing from billionaire Ron Burkle and Yusef Jackson, son of Jesse Jackson.[4][13][14] It was shut down again, in 2008 [15][16] but was quickly acquired by American Media Inc. and Jackson's Integrity Media.[4]

American Media Inc. ownership (2008-2021)

On October 24, 2008, American Media Inc. (AMI) announced a partnership with Integrity Multimedia Company to acquire RadarOnline.com, forming a new company called Radar Online LLC. David Perel, Executive Vice President of AMI News, was named managing editor.[4][17] When the site relaunched, all articles previously published by Radar Online were erased from the site.[18]

In 2010, Dylan Howard joined RadarOnline.com as Senior Executive Editor. After a brief stint leading Celebuzz.com, he returned in 2013 as editor-in-chief. His time at AMI was marked by periodic controversy and leadership changes.[19][20] He was named Chief Content Officer in 2017,[21] but his contract was not renewed in 2020.[22]

In August 2020, Radar Online experienced deep staff cuts [23] due to declining advertising sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the site becoming "practically moribund" with only sporadic postings.[13]

Empire Media Group ownership (2021-present)

On March 25, 2021, Dylan Howard announced that his newly formed Empire Media Group had acquired RadarOnline.com from a360 Media.[13] 40 staff members were hired to revitalize the site, including Editor-in-Chied Ryan Naumann, formerly of TMZ.[7]

References

1.  Lauren Sandler (April 19, 2003). "In iffy times, a bold magazine launch". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
2.  Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 11, 2005). "Reviving a Magazine With Ballast of a Web Site First". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
3.  Dworin, Caroline H. (November 9, 2008). "Bad News at Snarky Gulch". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
4.  Stableford, Dylan (October 24, 2008). "Radar Folds; Web Site Sold to AMI". Folio. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
5.  "American Media, Inc. Names Dylan Howard Chief Content Officer of the AMI Celebrity Group". PR Newswire. October 26, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
6.  Donnelly, Elizabeth Wagmeister,Matt (April 6, 2020). "Top Tabloid Exec Dylan Howard Out at American Media Inc. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
7.  "Empire Media Group, Inc. Acquires Portfolio of Leading Knowledge, Entertainment & Lifestyle Brands". November 9, 2025. Archived from the original on November 9, 2025.
8.  Carr, David (October 18, 2004). "Zuckerman and Financier to Back Pop Culture Magazine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
9.  Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 11, 2005). "Radar Magazine Rises From the Ashes Again". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
10.  "Radar magazine folds after three issues". TODAY.com. December 15, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
11.  Fine, Jon (December 14, 2005). "Radar Magazine Folds". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
12.  "Radar's Relatively Long, Strange Trip Comes to an End - Folio". Folio. December 14, 2005. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
13.  "Radar Online sold to ex-American Media exec Dylan Howard". New York Post. March 25, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
14.  "Ron Burkle, Billionaire Investor, Is Said to Be in Talks to Buy National Enquirer (Published 2019)". April 11, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
15.  "Radar Magazine Folding Again". Business Insider. October 24, 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
16.  Koblin, John (October 24, 2008). "Radar Shutting Down (Again)". The New York Observer. Observer.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
17.  Nolan, Hamilton (October 24, 2008). "AMI Buys RadarOnline.com". Gawker. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
18.  Staff, Resident. "Radar Online for Danielle Savre". Resident Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
19.  "Howard's end: Why infamous tabloid editor exited longtime National Enquirer publisher". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 2020. Archived from the original on August 3, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
20.  Baum, Gary (April 6, 2020). "Notorious Tabloid Editor Dylan Howard Departs American Media Inc". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
21.  "American Media, Inc. Names Dylan Howard Chief Content Officer of the AMI Celebrity Group". PR Newswire. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
22.  Chan, J. Clara (April 6, 2020). "Dylan Howard Out at American Media Inc. After Contract Expires". TheWrap. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
23.  Ellefson, Lindsey (June 9, 2020). "AMI's Radar Online Goes Dark After Massive Staff Layoffs". TheWrap. Retrieved November 11, 2025.

External links

• Official site
• Ongoing Radar coverage on Gawker.com