Theo Out From AVN
 

There’s Something Happening Here, What It Is Ain’t Exactly Clear ..AVN/XBiz Changes
By MikeSouth
December 14th, 2015

From MikeSouth.Com


I have to apologize for not catching this sooner. With everything that has been going on in porn land I did notice some curiosities at AVN, I’ve even noticed how similar they are to XBiz in their reporting. I also noticed that some people like Dan Miller and Tod Hunter are either staff at both publications or have moved from XBiz to AVN.

What I didn’t notice was that at some point around Oct/Nov Theo Sapoutzis got tossed. he is gone from AVN…In his former position.. Tony Rios.

I don’t know much about Tony or about what happened over there as yet so I would be greatly appreciative if some of you guys can provide me any info…even rumor…Specifically who owns AVN and why did they dump Theo and where did Theo go. Also who is Tony Rios and what are his affiliations?

Finally the rumor mill is that AVN and XBiz are now owned by the same company, and that changes are coming soon to XBiz….big ones as in Helmy going away…Thats just rumor right now but one thing is for sure….somethings happenin wouldnt be at all surprised to find MindGeek/Manwins fingerprints all over it…More as this develops

Interesting development :(

Daaaang ...sig spot

Though wouldn't be surprised if this thread "disappeared"

Thing is its old...I shouldnt have missed it he was dropped from the publishers statement info in October it looks like

Does he go back to being Soul_Rebel?

Interesting story no doubt!

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

:1orglaugh

I thought Theo owned AVN? How do you get "tossed"?
Do you mean he sold it?

Same - I thought he owned it...

Theos ownership stake in AVN has always been somewhat questionable there are and have been so many "silent" partners he may have just been a front man I really dont know

what I do know is that the publishers statement no longer lists Theo anywhere on it and that theres some turmoil around this change

he may have sold his stake or simply been terminated or even quit thats what I am trying to find out.

The response from people who would know has been such that I have a gut feeling that something is going on over there

No wonder the administrative password he gave me hasn't been working.

Tony Rios, please PM a new one to me, Thanks :thumbsup

He was/is CEO. :2 cents:

Interesting developments. I also thought Theo owned AVN.

I know that. But I was also told he owned it. Many people that own companies are also the CEO

got pics of theo?

Was CEO now Tony Rios is CEO

Who is Rios I have uncovered a gay actor using that name but it seems unlikely Im told this Tony Rios "has been around for a long time in both mainstream and adult"

normally I run something like this and I get slammed with info, some true some not but thats ok figuring out which is which is part of the job...or at least trying to...info on this has been very slow....very very slow....which of courses makes me wonder even more

Ownership of a company isn't always black and white and can be complicated. Maybe Theo owned a percentage, large or small, and sold his share, or maybe Theo owned the company with financial backers and they forced him out. For all we know Theo decided to spend less time in the day to day operations of AVN, and more time on the beach with his feet in the sand.

I only met Theo a handful of times, but he always seemed nice.

Oh Ive had dinner with Theo and he was always nice to me, not always totally honest but thats OK I dont expect total honesty and thats not a slam its a reality I dont hold it against anyone when they try to misdirect me even.

The reason I suspect there's a story here is because everyone is so tight lipped about it.

A little update for those following this It seems that Theo has been out since August, for one that matches up with Tony Rios linked in profile and with the fact that I was going by the publishers statement in the print version which has a 3 month lead time.

At this point its starting to look like Manwin may have sold out and took Theo with them, but thats just theory at this point, this is an interesting story to a lot of people myself included.

someone should insert a timeline here :Graucho

I've known Tony Rios for a long time. I think he's a great guy. I really liked Theo too. It will be very interesting indeed to see what happens.

Old news and he wasn't tossed.

Tony bought majority share of avn - he has been active since webmaster access Amsterdam.

huge scoop of something most people have known since September !!!

And tony has been a huge presence in the gay sector for years if not over a decade.

So who's gonna give me free show tickets now???

Is Theo's hot Israeli girlfriend still around tho? Her glasses always made me excited. :)

Tony was/is with C1R (Channel 1 Releasing), where the famous Chi Chi LaRue hangs his/her hat.

Just curious..how much dough would it take to buy a majority stake in AVN?

Use your head. One day he is posting thumb galleries and working customer support for some Russian teen site, and the next day he's the "owner" of AVN.

*yawn*

Thank you :Graucho

bump

Happy holidays to you Mike as well. I think this time you came on this a bit late, but I understand after seen your holiday photos :)

Tony has been working with me from our office since beginning of April. He is a new business partner of us and in August he was appointed as CEO which was the goal from the start. I introduced him to several people back in April during The Phoenix Forum, during summer to the clients in LA, in September during our WebmasterAccess event in Amsterdam, did the same at the European Summit, during AVN Halloween in Vegas and finally during the AVN Awards nominations. This is 6 different occasions and of course we'll do the same next month during the AVN grand week!

Tony has been in the industry since middle 90s, he is a successful entrepreneur and an incredible executive with a wide set of business skills. He shares a great vision for AVN like we do and we have been very thrilled working with him. Obviously we need to finally get him start posting here and resurrect his 2002 or so GFY nickname.

Robbie, we missed you during Halloween, I'm not going anywhere. I still work with our team and our clients on daily basis. With Tony on board you should anticipate only impressive things.

I'll skip to comment on the MindGeek comment cause its been getting old.

I didn't know if we were invited to the Halloween party. :(

Hopefully we'll see you in Jan. :)

really? I thought I asked you or Roy and I was told you were out of town?

I'll be the first to arrive and last to leave alive. I'll probably be in Vegas for a day next week, I'd let you know.

No, we were here the whole time.

No big deal. :)

Damn Theo take all the excitement out of it by just stating the facts. :winkwink:

Wizzo, the excitement remains for us having Tony on board. The company has done already a lot of great steps, recruited more quality employees and will showcase within the upcoming year various interesting products and services.

I hope Donny Long reads that :1orglaugh

Grats to both of you. Will you still be Chairman, or are you handing that over as well? Rarely a good thing to be both chairman and CEO

op has gotten quiet.....

Theo- being tossed never felt so good?

Yeah, but it does nothing for the conspiracy to keep me entertained during the holiday slowing. :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:thumbsup

Just spoke to Alec of XBIZ and he responded:
"It's Untrue. You're welcome to quote me."

So, Mike South has his "facts" wrong..... again.