Network World
U.S. trade/industry (B2B technology)
Background
Network World was founded in the early 1980s by International Data Group (IDG), the technology media and research company started by Patrick McGovern in 1964. It launched as a print weekly tabloid aimed at enterprise networking professionals and became one of the leading trade publications for IT infrastructure decision-makers. For most of its life it was part of IDG's global portfolio of B2B technology titles, which included Computerworld, CIO, PCWorld, and InfoWorld. IDG sold itself to China's Oceanwide Holdings Group in 2017 for roughly $700 million, then Blackstone acquired the company for approximately $1.3 billion. The editorial and media side — IDG Communications — rebranded as Foundry in February 2022 as part of a shift toward marketing services and data rather than traditional publishing. Network World discontinued its print edition and operates as a digital-only publication. In March 2025, Foundry was sold to Regent LP, a private equity firm specializing in media acquisitions. Throughout these ownership changes, Network World has maintained a narrow trade focus on enterprise networking, avoiding political commentary; its editorial posture toward any administration is shaped by technology policy stories such as federal broadband funding, spectrum allocation, or cybersecurity regulation rather than by partisan alignment.
Sources
- Enterprise networking insights & strategy | Foundry
- After Nearly 60 Years, IDG Communications Becomes Foundry
- IDG Rebrands as Foundry – GZ Consulting
- IDG Sells Foundry to Regent | STB Law
- Regent picks up tech media company Foundry from IDG | PE Hub
- Foundry's TechTarget-Like Transformation Ends in Sale – A Media Operator
- International Data Group – Wikipedia
- About Us | Network World
Profile compiled 2026-09-02; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.