What USA TODAY Co. does

USA TODAY Co. (NYSE: TDAY), formerly Gannett Co., Inc., is the largest local-to-national publishing and digital media organization in the United States, operating the national USA TODAY flagship brand alongside 200+ local media properties across 35+ states and the Newsquest subsidiary covering 150+ UK news brands. The company reaches approximately 87 million monthly unique visitors in the US and 53 million in the UK, and runs the largest media-owned events business in the country (Ventures division), executing marquee consumer events such as RAGBRAI, Wine & Food Experience, and Hot Chocolate Run. Q1 2026 total revenues were $548.5 million with digital representing 47.8% of total, and full-year 2025 revenue was $2.3 billion.

The company operates a platform-plus-modules business architecture. The core platform is the USA TODAY Network of news brands monetized across digital subscriptions, programmatic and direct advertising, and print circulation. Two solution modules sit on top: LocaliQ, a digital marketing growth platform with marketing automation, CRM, and an AI Voice Agent inside its Dash lead management product, which has driven over 263 million leads and $11.2 billion in revenue for SMB customers; and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, a mass-participation events business. Specialty brands including Humankind, Problem Solved, Golfweek, USA TODAY PLAY, Ad Meter, Movie Meter, Women of the Year, and Pet Lovers' Choice Awards extend audience monetization across verticals. Technology stack includes the DeeperDive AI Answer Engine (deployed in partnership with Taboola), proprietary lead management (Dash), and AI-assisted news production workflows that drove 116 million page views during the 2024 Winter Olympics.

USA TODAY Co. makes money through six primary revenue streams: digital advertising (programmatic and direct across 87M monthly unique visitors), digital subscriptions, print advertising and circulation, AI content licensing (multi-year deals with Meta, Microsoft, and Perplexity driving 125.6% YoY growth in Q1 2026), LocaliQ managed digital marketing services for SMBs, and events. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales for national advertisers, inside sales for SMBs through LocaliQ, direct-to-consumer digital subscriptions (with a freemium tier at $0.99 first month then $4.99/month, or $39.99/year for USA TODAY PLAY), and event-driven monetization. The company rebranded from Gannett to USA TODAY Co. in November 2024 (ticker change GCI to TDAY in February 2026), has 10,000+ employees, and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Name

USA TODAY Co.

Legal name

USA TODAY Co., Inc.

Website

https://usatodayco.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

USA TODAY Co. (NYSE: TDAY) is the largest US local-to-national digital media company, operating 200+ news brands reaching 87 million monthly unique visitors, plus LocaliQ digital marketing for SMBs and the largest media-owned consumer events business in the country.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

News Media and Digital Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (51311), Periodical Publishers (513120), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising (7310), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consumer News & Digital Newsrooms (Web/App-First) (MPAJADAD), Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos) (MPAJADAI), Digital Content & Media Subscriptions (CRAFAIAA)

Keywords

• News media publishing
• Digital marketing solutions
• Local journalism network
• Consumer subscriptions
• Events and experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Digital Advertising: Digital advertising revenue including programmatic and direct ad sales across the USA TODAY Network's digital properties reaching approximately 87 million unique visitors monthly. Facing pressure on programmatic advertising rates but remains a core revenue stream.
2. Digital Subscriptions: Digital-only subscription revenue from USA TODAY and network publications. Q1 2026 showed return to digital-only subscription growth. Shifted strategy toward annual subscriptions to reduce churn, though US digital-only paid subscriptions declined 30% YoY in Q4 2025.
3. Print Advertising and Circulation: Traditional print newspaper advertising and circulation revenue. Total revenues of $585.0 million in Q4 2025 (down 5.8% YoY) and $548.5 million in Q1 2026. Print continues to decline but remains significant portion of revenue.
4. AI Licensing Revenue: Revenue from multi-year AI licensing partnerships including Meta and Microsoft. 'Other' digital revenue reached $33.75 million in Q1 2026 (125.6% YoY increase) driven by digital content syndication, affiliate revenue, and AI partnerships.
5. LocaliQ Digital Marketing Solutions: Digital marketing solutions business helping small and medium businesses find, convert and keep customers. Proprietary software has driven over 263 million leads and $11.2 billion in revenue for customers.
6. Events and Experiences: Revenue from USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures events including RAGBRAI, Wine & Food Experience, Hot Chocolate Run Series, Essentia Health Fargo Marathon, and new Great American Tailgate partnership with Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

USA TODAY Co. operates a diversified media and digital marketing business built on a portfolio of more than 200 local media properties, the national USA TODAY flagship, and the Newsquest UK media group reaching approximately 87 million monthly unique visitors. Its primary commercial offerings include national and digital advertising, consumer digital subscriptions, LocaliQ digital marketing solutions for SMBs, AI content licensing to technology platforms, and consumer events and entertainment (USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, USA TODAY PLAY).

Product overview

USA TODAY Co. operates a diversified media and digital marketing solutions company with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core platform is the USA TODAY Network, encompassing the national USA TODAY flagship brand alongside hundreds of local media properties across the US and UK (via Newsquest subsidiary). Supporting this are two main business solution modules: LocaliQ, a digital marketing growth platform with Dash lead management and AI Voice Agent features; and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, the events division managing mass-participation events like RAGBRAI and Hot Chocolate Run. Specialty content brands including Humankind, Problem Solved, Golfweek, USA TODAY PLAY (with Marvel Comics), Ad Meter (Super Bowl ratings), Movie Meter, and Wine & Food Experience Tour extend audience engagement. The company is undergoing digital transformation, with AI licensing deals (Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity) and proprietary tools like DeeperDive AI Answer Engine positioning against AI search disruption.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• USA TODAY: National flagship brand and trusted guide to what matters most, providing unbiased news coverage
• Newsquest
• LocaliQ
• USA TODAY PLAY
• USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures
• USA TODAY Sports
• Ad Meter
• Movie Meter
• Women of the Year
• Studio IX
• USA TODAY Acoustic
• Humankind
• 10Best
• Golfweek
• TODAY Californian

Products and services

• USA TODAY National flagship newspaper and digital platform providing trusted, unbiased news, sports, and entertainment coverage to general consumers.
• USA TODAY Network

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital revenue reached $261.9M in Q1 2026, 47.8% of total revenues, approaching 50% milestone
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marvel ComicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Collaboration providing exclusive vertically-formatted Marvel Infinity 'Spider-Man TODAY' comic series written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Todd Nauck. Also includes access to catalog of 1,000 digital comics from Marvel's characters including X-Men, Captain America, Black Panther, Fantastic Four, Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Pro Football Hall of FamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Partnership for USA TODAY Great American Tailgate event, an inaugural culinary celebration within Sugardale Fan Fest during football's biggest celebration weekend. Event takes place August 5-9, 2026, in Canton, Ohio, offering tasting experiences inspired by all 32 NFL teams.
• MediaNews GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Binding Letter of Intent to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group, following conclusion of joint operating agreement with Detroit Free Press. Expected to close end of January 2026, funded through cash and incremental debt financing from Apollo affiliates.
• MetacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Multi-year strategic partnership providing news content from USA TODAY and its network of over 200 local publications to Meta's family of apps and devices. Enables Meta AI to incorporate trusted local and national journalism into responses with links directing users to original articles for attribution and deeper content.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExisting multi-year AI agreement with Microsoft that CEO Reed noted had a notable impact on Q1 2026 quarterly results. Part of company's strategy to generate revenue from AI licensing deals.
• TaboolacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for DeeperDive AI Answer Engine, reaching 7 million monthly active users. Publishers integrating DeeperDive see up to 17% user engagement compared to low single-digit industry averages. Taboola expanding DeeperDive globally with support for six languages.
• Essentia HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor of Essentia Health Fargo Marathon, managed by Ventures Endurance. Dan Lakin appointed Executive Race Director, bringing 15+ years of endurance event management experience.
• State FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of USA TODAY's 38th Annual Ad Meter competition for Super Bowl commercials.
• Uber EatsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociate sponsor of USA TODAY's 38th Annual Ad Meter competition for Super Bowl commercials.
• SkechersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of Hot Chocolate Run Series, featuring Ghirardelli Cocoa Club.
• Best Friends Animal SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit beneficiary of Pet Lovers' Choice Awards; each paid vote directly supports the organization's goal to save lives of dogs and cats in shelters. Awards generated $700,000+ for pet shelters in inaugural year.
• Angel City Football ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of celebratory event for USA TODAY's 2026 Women of the Year at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 27, 2026.
• CNN, Fox News, Le Monde Group, People Inc., Le Figaro, Süddeutsche ZeitungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor news organizations partnered with Meta to provide real-time news and content for Meta AI assistant across its apps and devices.
• More Perfect, Students United News Network (SUNN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-part national contest series for middle and high school students on civic engagement ahead of America's 250th Anniversary. Contests include Fly Your Flag, Make Your Speech, and Sing Your Anthem.
• PerplexityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic AI content licensing agreement for providing news content to Perplexity's AI answer engine.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Advance Publications: Advance Publications owns Condé Nast, Reddit, and a portfolio of local newspapers through Advance Local. Comparable as a privately held media conglomerate combining national digital media with a significant local newspaper footprint, similar to USA TODAY Co.'s hybrid model.
• Bloomberg Media: Bloomberg Media operates Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Television, Businessweek, and digital subscription products. Comparable as a diversified news and digital media business monetizing through enterprise advertising, consumer subscriptions, and events, though focused primarily on business/finance audiences.
• Hearst Communications: Hearst is a large private media conglomerate operating newspapers (Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle), magazines (Cosmopolitan, Esquire), and TV stations. Comparable as a diversified incumbent with overlapping newspaper and digital media assets, though broader in scope than USA TODAY Co.

Direct peers

• News Corp: News Corp owns The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and The Times/The Sun in the UK, plus Dow Jones and HarperCollins. Directly comparable as a diversified national and international newspaper publisher with both print and digital subscription businesses targeting similar enterprise advertising and consumer audiences.
• Tribune Publishing: Tribune Publishing operates major metropolitan dailies including the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, and Baltimore Sun. Direct peer as a US newspaper chain navigating the same print-to-digital transition with similar advertiser and subscription dynamics.
• Dotdash Meredith: Dotdash Meredith (owned by IAC) operates People, Better Homes & Gardens, Investopedia, and other digital-first lifestyle brands. Comparable as a digital content + advertising + commerce publisher pursuing consumer engagement and branded content, similar to USA TODAY Co.'s USA TODAY PLAY and branded content studio.
• McClatchy: McClatchy is a US regional newspaper chain with titles including the Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee, and Charlotte Observer. Highly comparable as a local-newspaper-heavy publisher pursuing digital subscription transformation under similar secular pressures.
• Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT): DMGT owns the Daily Mail, MailOnline, Metro, and a US B2B information business (Trepp, Landmark). Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered media group with both a national tabloid newspaper and significant US digital reach competing for similar audiences and advertisers.
• Lee Enterprises: Lee Enterprises is one of the largest US local newspaper groups, operating daily and weekly publications across 25 states. Closely comparable in operating model: local print + digital advertising + digital subscription + SMB marketing solutions (TownNews/BH Media-like services).
• The New York Times Company: The New York Times Company is the leading US national newspaper publisher with a successful digital subscription model (10M+ subscribers), directly comparable to USA TODAY Co.'s national flagship + digital subscription strategy. Both operate national news brands transitioning from print to digital subscription revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usatodayco

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about USA TODAY Co.