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Sportswriter Bill Simmons founded The Ringer in 2011.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bill Simmons founded The Ringer, which was launched in March 2016, not 2011.
The Ringer's initial editorial staff was largely comprised of individuals who had previously collaborated with Bill Simmons on the ESPN-owned blog, Grantland.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Ringer was launched by Bill Simmons, who recruited many editors and writers who had previously worked with him on Grantland, an ESPN-owned blog.
HBO was the exclusive initial financial backer for The Ringer website.
Answer: False
Explanation: While HBO was an initial investor, it was not the sole investor in The Ringer website.
The Ringer commenced its publication operations utilizing the Substack platform.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer did not originate on Substack; its relationship with platforms like Medium predates its establishment.
At the time of its launch, The Ringer employed a staff numbering approximately 60 individuals.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer launched with a staff of 43 people, not approximately 60.
Identify the individual credited as the founder of The Ringer.
Answer: Bill Simmons
Explanation: Sportswriter Bill Simmons is credited as the founder of The Ringer.
In what year did The Ringer commence its operations?
Answer: 2016
Explanation: The Ringer was launched in March 2016.
Identify the entity that provided initial investment for The Ringer website.
Answer: HBO
Explanation: HBO provided initial investment for The Ringer website.
The majority of The Ringer's initial staff comprised individuals who had previously been employed by which ESPN-owned blog?
Answer: Grantland
Explanation: The Ringer's initial staff largely consisted of individuals who had previously worked on Grantland, an ESPN-owned blog.
What was the approximate size of The Ringer's staff at its initial launch?
Answer: 43
Explanation: The Ringer launched with a staff of 43 people.
The Ringer's primary content focus is exclusively on technology and politics.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer's primary content focus is on sports and popular culture, although some writers also cover technology and politics.
The provided source material contained detailed examples of specific articles published on The Ringer's website.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source material focused on the history, business, and personnel of The Ringer, but did not provide detailed examples of specific articles published on its website.
In its initial phase, The Ringer's content strategy encompassed technology and politics in addition to its core focus on sports and popular culture.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Ringer's initial content focus included sports, pop culture, technology, and politics.
What are the principal content domains that The Ringer addresses?
Answer: Sports and Popular Culture
Explanation: The Ringer primarily focuses on sports and popular culture.
In 2020, Spotify completed the acquisition of The Ringer for an estimated base value of $195 million.
Answer: True
Explanation: Spotify acquired The Ringer on February 5, 2020, for an estimated $195 million, with additional performance-driven incentives.
The Ringer has consistently maintained operational independence, eschewing all partnerships for advertising or technology.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer entered into a significant partnership with Vox Media in May 2017 for advertising sales and publishing platform access, contradicting the notion of consistent independence.
The official web domain for The Ringer is www.theringer.com.
Answer: True
Explanation: The official web address for The Ringer is indeed www.theringer.com.
Spotify's acquisition of The Ringer included provisions for potential additional payments contingent upon performance-driven incentives.
Answer: True
Explanation: Spotify's acquisition of The Ringer included a base amount and potential additional payments based on performance-driven incentives.
The Ringer operates as a non-profit entity sustained primarily through public donations.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer is a commercial media organization, not a non-profit funded by donations.
The acquisition of The Ringer by Spotify was announced in February of the year 2020.
Answer: True
Explanation: Spotify's acquisition of The Ringer was announced on February 5, 2020.
Identify the corporate entity that acquired The Ringer in the year 2020.
Answer: Spotify
Explanation: Spotify acquired The Ringer in 2020.
In May 2017, The Ringer established a significant partnership. What was its primary objective?
Answer: Advertising sales and publishing platform access with Vox Media
Explanation: In May 2017, The Ringer partnered with Vox Media primarily for advertising sales and access to their publishing platform.
Excluding performance-driven incentives, what was the approximate financial valuation of Spotify's acquisition of The Ringer?
Answer: 195 million
Explanation: The approximate financial value of Spotify's acquisition of The Ringer, excluding incentives, was $195 million.
What is the official web domain for The Ringer?
Answer: www.theringer.com
Explanation: The official web address for The Ringer is www.theringer.com.
Regarding the Medium platform, what was The Ringer's historical relationship with it?
Answer: A platform The Ringer previously published on
Explanation: The Ringer had previously published on the Medium platform before establishing its own website.
The acquisition of The Ringer by Spotify included provisions for potential additional payments contingent upon what factor?
Answer: Performance-driven incentives
Explanation: The acquisition included potential additional payments based on performance-driven incentives.
Identify the entity listed that was NOT acquired by Spotify, in addition to The Ringer.
Answer: Wondery
Explanation: Wondery is not listed among the other podcasting or media companies acquired by Spotify in the provided context, unlike Gimlet Media and Parcast.
The Ringer's podcast network's content is exclusively dedicated to political commentary.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer's podcast network, mirroring its website, covers a range of subjects including sports and popular culture, not exclusively political commentary.
The Ringer's primary or flagship podcast is identified as *The Bill Simmons Podcast*.
Answer: True
Explanation: The flagship podcast of The Ringer is indeed *The Bill Simmons Podcast*, which features interviews with various cultural figures.
The podcast *Keepin' it 1600*, hosted by current Ringer employees, primarily focused on sports analysis.
Answer: False
Explanation: *Keepin' it 1600* was hosted by former Obama administration speechwriters and focused on politics, not sports analysis by current employees.
The video podcast series *Talk the Thrones* functioned as an official aftershow for the HBO television series *Game of Thrones*.
Answer: True
Explanation: *Talk the Thrones* was indeed a video podcast series produced by The Ringer that served as an aftershow for HBO's *Game of Thrones*.
The *Binge Mode* podcast initially concentrated its recapping efforts on the *Star Wars* saga.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Binge Mode* podcast initially focused on recapping *Game of Thrones* and the *Harry Potter* series, not the *Star Wars* saga.
The podcast *Higher Learning* has garnered nominations for the prestigious NAACP Image Awards.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *Higher Learning* podcast has been nominated multiple times for the Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast award at the NAACP Image Awards.
The podcast *Talk the Thrones* represented a continuation of the HBO aftershow program titled *After the Thrones*.
Answer: True
Explanation: *Talk the Thrones* was indeed a continuation of *After the Thrones*, a previous aftershow for *Game of Thrones*.
The podcast *The Bill Simmons Podcast* is hosted by Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay.
Answer: False
Explanation: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay are the hosts of *Higher Learning*, not *The Bill Simmons Podcast*.
Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer, hosts of the podcast *Keepin' it 1600*, subsequently created *Pod Save America* while operating under The Ringer's organizational umbrella.
Answer: False
Explanation: Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer created *Pod Save America* as part of their own media company, Crooked Media, after leaving The Ringer, not under its umbrella.
The podcast *Binge Mode* exclusively focused its content on recapping the *Harry Potter* series.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Binge Mode* podcast initially covered both *Game of Thrones* and the *Harry Potter* series, not exclusively *Harry Potter*.
From the options provided, which subject was NOT identified as being covered by The Ringer's podcast network?
Answer: Technology
Explanation: While The Ringer's podcast network covers sports and popular culture, technology was not explicitly mentioned as a primary subject area.
The flagship podcast, *The Bill Simmons Podcast*, predominantly features interviews with which types of individuals?
Answer: Athletes, filmmakers, comedians, and pop culture figures
Explanation: *The Bill Simmons Podcast* primarily features interviews with athletes, filmmakers, comedians, and other pop culture figures.
The podcast *Keepin' it 1600* was hosted by former officials associated with which U.S. presidential administration?
Answer: Barack Obama administration
Explanation: *Keepin' it 1600* was hosted by former speechwriters and advisors from the Barack Obama administration.
What was the central subject matter of the video podcast series *Talk the Thrones*?
Answer: An aftershow for the series *Game of Thrones*
Explanation: The video podcast series *Talk the Thrones* served as an aftershow for the HBO series *Game of Thrones*.
The *Binge Mode* podcast initially focused on recapping which two popular television series?
Answer: Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
Explanation: The *Binge Mode* podcast initially focused on recapping *Game of Thrones* and the *Harry Potter* series.
Identify the hosts of the podcast *Higher Learning*, which premiered in 2020.
Answer: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Explanation: The *Higher Learning* podcast, which debuted in 2020, is hosted by Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay.
For which notable award has the podcast *Higher Learning* received nominations?
Answer: Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast at the NAACP Image Awards
Explanation: The *Higher Learning* podcast has been nominated for the Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast award at the NAACP Image Awards.
Describe the relationship between the podcast *Talk the Thrones* and the earlier program *After the Thrones*.
Answer: *Talk the Thrones* was a continuation of *After the Thrones*.
Explanation: *Talk the Thrones* was a continuation of *After the Thrones*, a previous aftershow for *Game of Thrones*.
The subject matter of the *Higher Learning* podcast encompasses discussions on Black culture, politics, sports, and which additional category?
Answer: Current events
Explanation: The *Higher Learning* podcast discusses Black culture, politics, sports, and current events.
The editorial staff at The Ringer formally unionized in the year 2020.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Ringer's editorial staff voted to unionize in August 2019, with management voluntarily recognizing the union shortly thereafter.
The inaugural collective bargaining agreement ratified in April 2021 by The Ringer's writers and producers contained specific provisions mandating worker ownership of content.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the April 2021 collective agreement established a minimum base salary and other terms, it explicitly did not include provisions for worker ownership of content.
As stipulated in the April 2021 collective agreement, the minimum base salary for staff at The Ringer was established at $57,000.
Answer: True
Explanation: The April 2021 collective agreement did establish a minimum base salary of $57,000 for The Ringer staff.
In August 2019, The Ringer's editorial staff voted to unionize. With which labor organization did they affiliate?
Answer: Writers Guild of America, East
Explanation: The Ringer's editorial staff voted to unionize with the Writers Guild of America, East in August 2019.
The Ringer's initial collective agreement, ratified in April 2021, stipulated a minimum base salary of $57,000. However, it notably excluded provisions for which of the following?
Answer: Worker ownership of content
Explanation: The April 2021 collective agreement did not include provisions for worker ownership of content.
The investigative report published by The Ringer concerning Bryan Colangelo's social media activity was directly instrumental in his subsequent resignation as General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Ringer's May 2018 story detailing Bryan Colangelo's use of anonymous Twitter accounts led directly to his resignation from the Philadelphia 76ers.
J.J. Redick is presently identified as a notable *current* employee of The Ringer.
Answer: False
Explanation: J.J. Redick is listed as a notable *former* employee of The Ringer; he is currently a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
What was the direct outcome of The Ringer's May 2018 report concerning Bryan Colangelo?
Answer: Colangelo resigned from his position.
Explanation: The immediate consequence of The Ringer's May 2018 story about Bryan Colangelo was his resignation as GM of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Based on the provided information, identify the former employee of The Ringer who currently serves as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Answer: J.J. Redick
Explanation: J.J. Redick, a former employee of The Ringer, is currently a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Identify from the options provided a notable *current* employee of The Ringer.
Answer: Zach Lowe
Explanation: Zach Lowe is listed as a notable current employee of The Ringer.