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Beckett Media, LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryElectronic publishing, publishing
GenreAutomotive, collectibles, entertainment, sports, trading cards, video game
FoundedBowling Green, Ohio (1984)
FounderJames Beckett
Headquarters
Plano, Texas
,
U.S.
Area served
U.S., Canada
ProductsCollector memorabilia, books, DVDs, magazines, novelties, pricing guides
ServicesSports card and comic book grading
Revenue$42.2 million (2023)[1]
Number of employees
550 (2023)[2]
DivisionsBeckett Grading Services, Comic Book Certification Service, Magazine publication,
WebsiteBeckett.com
Cbcscomics.com

Beckett Media is a firm dedicated to covering the sports card, comic book grading, collectibles, and sports memorabilia sectors. Established in 1984 by statistician Dr. James Beckett, it was originally known as Beckett Publications.

History

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James Beckett was a statistics professor before launching Beckett Media.[3] In the 1970s, Beckett introduced some of the initial price guides for the baseball card industry, providing more detailed information on specific card prices compared to the newsletters that collectors were accustomed to.[4] He founded Beckett Publications in 1984.[5]

In January 2005, Beckett offloaded the company to Apprise Media, which aimed to broaden its portfolio in niche and enthusiast media.[6] The company was renamed Beckett Media as part of the sale.[6][7] On 26 January 2005, Apprise Media hired Peter A. Gudmundsson as the company CEO.[8]

In May 2008, less than four years after being acquired by Apprise Media, there were rumors that Beckett Media was back on the market. Five undisclosed companies were reportedly contemplating buying the firm.[9] In 2008, Beckett Media was acquired by Eli Global, a multinational company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Eli Global was established in 1991 by Greg Lindberg.

In 2010, Beckett Media embarked on a major revamp of its digital presence. On March 8, 2010, they revealed a collaboration with SeatGeek to enhance their website's functionality. As a result of this partnership, links to the sports ticket search engine SeatGeek were incorporated on the primary sports teams and leagues pages on Beckett's site. This integration allowed users to seamlessly navigate to SeatGeek's ticket search system for specific teams.[10]

Products

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Beckett sports card grading

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Beckett Media's publications pioneered an early card grading system, offering a method to assess their quality. This system defined six distinct levels, ranging from mint to poor condition.[11] Beckett Media operates a sports card grading service named Beckett Grading Services. This service holds the exclusive rights to grade and authenticate trading cards from the Topps Vault.[12][13] In 2016, Beckett Media inaugurated an autograph verification enterprise called Beckett Authentication Services. Today, it stands as one of the premier entities in the realm of autograph authentication.[14]

Comic book grading

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Comic Book Certification Service (CBCS), founded by Dr. Michael Bornstein, his son Alec, and Steve Borock, serves as a specialized, independent, and neutral third-party grading entity for comic books. They offer a platform, either through their website or via authorized dealers, where owners can submit their comic books for grading and secure encapsulation. Additionally, during comic book conventions, CBCS representatives are present to directly accept submissions.

Upon receipt, the comics first undergo a thorough inspection to identify any noticeable defects, like missing staples. They are subsequently evaluated by an expert appraiser in a climate-controlled setting. This examination also encompasses verification for possible refurbishments or forgery. Upon review, comics are scored on a scale from 0.5 to 10, with ascending values signifying better quality. CBCS provides either a witness signature verification service or leverages the technology from Beckett Authentication Services for signature authentication. After this process, every comic is securely encapsulated in a tamper-proof slab.[15]

Fanspot.com

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In November 2005, Beckett Media embarked on a journey to develop a social networking platform tailored for casual sports enthusiasts. By April 2006, their efforts culminated in the unveiling of FanSpot.com during the 2006 National Sports Collectors Convention.[16][17] By the end of the month, the site had 1800 registered users.[18] By the close of 2008, user engagement on FanSpot.com had dwindled to a halt, even though many sections of the site remained operational. However, by 2013, FanSpot had completely ceased operations.

Internet sales

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From 1995, Beckett Media utilized the internet to facilitate the trade of collectibles and sports cards. Aligning with a range of collectible dealers, they provided an extensive online catalog of products. Through Beckett's website, consumers had the convenience of directly buying items from these dealers. By 2005, the platform had seen sales amounting to $13 million, and the count of associated dealers had risen to 165 by the next year.[19]

Magazines

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Beckett Media produces price guides and books pertaining to collectibles and also deals in the distribution of sports memorabilia.[12] An early publication from the company was "Beckett Baseball Card Monthly," which at its zenith garnered a readership of approximately one million.[20] In 2008, Beckett transitioned its monthly price guides for football, baseball, hockey, and basketball cards into seasonal editions. Starting from April 2008, "Beckett Sports Card Monthly" emerged as its sole monthly sports-centric magazine.[21]

Beckett Media also releases four magazines that delve into non-sports collectible card games, like "Magic: The Gathering", as well as hobby and entertainment subjects, including anime and manga.[12][22] In 2005, the collective circulation of the titles stood at 800,000 copies. By 2008, this number fluctuated between 500,000 and 700,000. To decrease overheads, the company started reducing its monthly publications. Although this strategy worked in trimming costs, it sparked concerns among consumers and led to a drop in sales.[9] In 2003, virtual pets site Neopets selected Beckett Media as the publisher of its new monthly Neopets: The Official Magazine. The bi-monthly magazine premiered in September 2003,[23] and was canceled in January 2008 after 26 issues. Beckett replaced the issues remaining in pre-paid subscriptions with their new bi-monthly magazine, Plushie Pals.[24][unreliable source?] Aimed at plushie collectors, Plushie Pals includes pricing guides for a range of plushie lines, including Neopets, Webkinz, Shining Stars, TY Beanie Babies, and Pokémon.[25] In October 2009, Beckett replaced Plushie Pals with a new magazine, FUN! Online Games, which focuses on various kid and family oriented online game sites, including Webkinz, Club Penguin, Neopets, Disney Online and Wizard 101. According to the company, in its first month it had 100,000 readers.[26]

In 2006, Beckett Media ventured into the video game domain by introducing "Beckett Massive Online Gamer." Launched in May 2006, this magazine catered to enthusiasts of various massively multiplayer online games (MMORPGs). It not only provided game-related information but also showcased related products and featured articles on lifestyle and entertainment themes.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Beckett Media Revenue and Competitors". Growjo.com. 13 August 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Beckett Media Revenue and Competitors". Growjo.com. 13 August 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Inside Beckett Media's Sports Collecting Empire". MSN. 24 July 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Jamieson, Dave (2010). Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession. New York City: Atlantic Monthly Press. pp. 149–150. ISBN 978-0-8021-1939-1.
  5. ^ Bounds, Jeff (July 8, 2005). "Beckett covers bases with revamp". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Beckett Publications sold to New York media company". Dallas Business Journal. January 26, 2005. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  7. ^ Ives, Nat (January 26, 2005). "Apprise Media Buys Publisher of Price Guides". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  8. ^ "Gudmundsson Named CEO of Beckett Media; Will Work to Expand Company Through New Products & Services" (Press release). Apprise Media. Business Wire. January 26, 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  9. ^ a b Moore, Dave (May 13, 2008). "Less than four years later, Beckett again for sale". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2008. [dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Beckett Media Signs Partnership with SeatGeek" (Press release). PR Web. March 8, 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  11. ^ Jamieson, p. 150.
  12. ^ a b c "Corporate Overview". Beckett Media. Archived from the original on 2008-01-25. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  13. ^ "Beckett Partners". Beckett Media. Archived from the original on 2008-02-09. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  14. ^ "Inside Beckett Media's Sports Collecting Empire". MSN. 24 July 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Comic Book Grading and Certification". MSN. 13 August 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  16. ^ Davis, Steve (August 22, 2006). "Stars' version of two-a-days". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  17. ^ "FanSpot Asks: Are You Fan Enough?" (Press release). FanSpot. Marketwire. August 22, 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  18. ^ Batheja, Aman (August 30, 2006). "Company takes a swing at creating a MySpace for sports fans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. FanSpot.com has 1,800 members, [Beckett Media spokesman Elon] Werner said.
  19. ^ Quinton, Brian (July 5, 2006). "Sports Collectibles Site Powers up Major League Search". Direct Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  20. ^ Jamieson, pp. 149–151.
  21. ^ "2008 Beckett Sports Lineup FAQ". Beckett Media. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  22. ^ a b Dobson, Jason (April 13, 2006). "Beckett to Launch MMOG Magazine". Gamasutra. Think Services. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  23. ^ "Neopets News". Neopets. September 11, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  24. ^ Letter to subscribers sent by Beckett media
  25. ^ "Red Hot Collectibles Covered in Beckett's Plushie Pals" (Press release). Beckett Media. Business Wire. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  26. ^ "Beckett Launches FUN! Online Games Magazine To Feature Kid- and Family-Friendly Online Games and Communities" (Press release). Beckett Media. Marketwire. October 18, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
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