Radar Online

Radar Online is an American entertainment and gossip website focused on celebrity news, popular culture, fashion, politics, and human-interest stories. The brand originated as Radar magazine, founded and edited by Maer Roshan, with the first issues appearing in September 2003. The original publication was conceived as a magazine with a broad cultural and entertainment remit rather than as a narrowly focused celebrity title. Its early history was marked by repeated launches and closures as the publication sought financial backing and a sustainable audience. The magazine was relaunched in 2005 with support from investors and family members, including Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman, but ceased publication again after three issues. It was revived in 2006 with backing from Ron Burkle and Yusef Jackson, and ultimately shut down in 2008. During this period, the Radar name also moved toward a digital publishing model. RadarOnline.com launched in 2005, allowing the brand to publish continuously online even as the print edition struggled to remain viable. In October 2008, American Media Inc. announced a partnership with Integrity Multimedia Company to acquire RadarOnline.com. The transaction created Radar Online LLC and placed the website within AMI's news and celebrity-media operations. David Perel, then an AMI News executive, was appointed managing editor. Following the relaunch, previously published articles were removed from the website, making the transition a significant reset of the site's public archive and editorial presentation. Dylan Howard became a central figure in the site's later AMI era. He joined RadarOnline.com as senior executive editor in 2010, briefly moved to Celebuzz, and returned in 2013 as editor-in-chief. In 2017 he was appointed AMI's chief content officer. His involvement coincided with Radar's identity as a fast-moving digital celebrity-news outlet, operating in a competitive market alongside entertainment and gossip publishers that relied on breaking reports, exclusive claims, personality-driven coverage, and high-frequency online publishing. Howard's contract was not renewed in 2020. The website encountered substantial operational pressure in 2020. Declining advertising sales during the COVID-19 pandemic led to deep staff reductions in August of that year, and contemporaneous descriptions characterized the site as largely inactive, with only sporadic updates. This period exposed the vulnerability of ad-supported digital entertainment publishing to falling traffic, reduced marketing budgets, and newsroom contraction. On March 25, 2021, Howard announced that his newly formed Empire Media Group had acquired RadarOnline.com from A360 Media, the successor to American Media Inc.'s publishing business. Empire Media Group recruited approximately 40 staff members to revive the publication, including Ryan Naumann as editor-in-chief. The acquisition returned editorial control to Howard and represented an effort to restore Radar Online as an active celebrity and entertainment news brand. Radar Online's business is centered on digital editorial content rather than physical products, with its website serving as the principal branded offering. Its long-term position depends on audience reach, advertising, search visibility, editorial exclusives, and the ability to compete in a crowded online celebrity-news sector.

Radar Online traces its origins to Radar magazine, which Maer Roshan founded and edited in September 2003. The magazine began with two test issues and covered entertainment, fashion, politics, and human-interest subjects. Its initial model was print-based, but the project encountered repeated difficulties securing a stable commercial foundation. A 2005 relaunch, supported by investors and family members including Mort Zuckerman, ended after three issues. The magazine was revived again in 2006 with financial backing from Ron Burkle and Yusef Jackson, but it was closed in 2008. The digital version, RadarOnline.com, launched in 2005. This gave the brand a continuous online presence even while the print magazine was being relaunched and discontinued. After the print edition ended, American Media Inc. and Integrity Multimedia Company announced an October 2008 agreement to acquire the website. The companies created Radar Online LLC, and David Perel was appointed managing editor. The relaunch removed the site's previously published articles, effectively resetting its online archive. Radar's subsequent development took place within AMI's portfolio of celebrity and news publications. Dylan Howard joined the website as senior executive editor in 2010. After a short period at Celebuzz, he returned to Radar in 2013 as editor-in-chief. He later became AMI's chief content officer in 2017. The site operated as an entertainment and gossip publication in an increasingly competitive digital market, where publishers competed for search traffic, advertising, social distribution, and exclusive celebrity reporting. The AMI period also included changes in editorial leadership and growing economic pressure on digital media. Howard's contract was not renewed in 2020. In August that year, Radar Online made deep staff cuts as advertising revenue declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting reduction in personnel and publishing frequency left the website with only intermittent activity. On March 25, 2021, Howard announced that Empire Media Group, the company he had formed, acquired RadarOnline.com from A360 Media, the corporate successor to American Media Inc.'s publishing operations. The new ownership sought to rebuild the publication and hired approximately 40 staff members. Ryan Naumann, formerly associated with TMZ, became editor-in-chief. The transaction returned control of the brand to Howard and shifted Radar Online into a new ownership phase focused on restoring its editorial output and relevance. Today, Radar Online is best understood as a digital entertainment-news brand. Its core output consists of online reporting and commentary concerning celebrities, gossip, popular culture, fashion, politics, and human-interest subjects. The brand has no documented continuing print product in the supplied reference material. Its history illustrates the transition from magazine publishing to web-native celebrity media, as well as the effects of ownership changes, newsroom contraction, advertising volatility, and editorial relaunches.

• 2021

  Empire Media Group acquires RadarOnline.com

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Empire Media Group acquired the site from A360 Media and began a staffing-led effort to revive the publication.

• 2020

  Staff reductions affect the website

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Radar Online made deep staff cuts amid declining advertising sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2017

  Howard becomes chief content officer

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Howard was appointed chief content officer at American Media Inc.

• 2013

  Howard returns as editor-in-chief

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  After a brief period at Celebuzz, Dylan Howard returned to Radar Online as editor-in-chief.

• 2010

  Dylan Howard joins as senior executive editor

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Dylan Howard joined RadarOnline.com in a senior editorial role during its American Media ownership period.

• 2008

  American Media and Integrity acquire the website

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  American Media Inc. and Integrity Multimedia Company announced a partnership to acquire RadarOnline.com and formed Radar Online LLC.

• 2006

  Radar print edition is revived

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine was revived with backing associated with Ron Burkle and Yusef Jackson.

• 2005

  RadarOnline.com launches

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  The brand established its web presence through the launch of RadarOnline.com.

• 2005

  Print magazine relaunches and closes again

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Radar returned in print with new backing but ceased publication after three issues.

• 2003

  Radar magazine is founded

  [1]Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org

  Maer Roshan founded and edited Radar magazine, which began publication with two test issues in September.

A fast-moving digital entertainment and celebrity-news publication with roots in a short-lived print magazine. The brand emphasizes popular culture, celebrity developments, gossip, fashion, and human-interest reporting for an online audience.

• Digital publishing · 2005

  RadarOnline.com

  RadarOnline.com is the brand's principal digital product and publishing platform. It carries entertainment and celebrity news, gossip-oriented reporting, popular-culture coverage, fashion material, politics, and human-interest stories. The site became the enduring form of the Radar brand after the print magazine closed and has operated through multiple ownership and editorial phases.

• Print magazine · 2003

  Radar magazine

  Radar was the original print publication behind the brand. Founded by Maer Roshan, it covered entertainment, fashion, politics, and human-interest topics. The magazine experienced multiple launches and closures between 2003 and 2008 before the continuing digital website became the primary expression of the brand.

• 2021

  Empire Media Group acquires and rebuilds Radar OnlineM&A

  Background

  Following staff reductions and reduced publishing activity, the website required a new ownership and operating plan.

  Action taken

  Empire Media Group acquired RadarOnline.com from A360 Media and recruited approximately 40 employees, including Ryan Naumann as editor-in-chief.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition returned control to Dylan Howard and initiated an effort to restore the site's editorial operation.

  Source

• 2020

  Reduce staffing during the advertising downturnStrategy

  Background

  Declining advertising sales during the COVID-19 pandemic placed pressure on the site's operating model.

  Action taken

  Radar Online implemented deep staff reductions, substantially limiting its publishing activity.

  Aftermath

  The site became largely inactive, with only sporadic posts reported during the period.

  Source

• 2008

  Acquire RadarOnline.com and relaunch the digital brandM&A

  Background

  The Radar print magazine had closed, while the website represented a continuing digital opportunity for the brand.

  Action taken

  American Media Inc. partnered with Integrity Multimedia Company to acquire RadarOnline.com and created Radar Online LLC.

  Aftermath

  The site relaunched under new ownership and its previously published articles were removed from the website.

  Source

1. 1Radar Onlineen.wikipedia.org