Jason and Travis Kelce’s Podcast Inks Deal with Amazon’s Wondery

Amazon’s podcast studio, Wondery, has secured a multiyear agreement with the podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.” This move is part of Wondery’s strategy to expand its portfolio of audio programs, particularly in ad sales and distribution.

The agreement grants Wondery global distribution rights for both audio and video versions of “New Heights” dating back to its inception in 2022. Additionally, the studio is authorized to create international audio adaptations and develop, manufacture, and license merchandise related to the podcast. According to a source familiar with the terms, the deal is valued at over $100 million.

“Since its first play, ‘New Heights’ has brought hilarious, relevant commentary and interviews, even unprecedented insider access to the NFL season and professional sports,” said Jen Sargent, CEO of Wondery. “Now a cultural phenomenon, we’re excited to grow the ‘New Heights’ brand together with Jason, Travis, and Amazon through Wondery’s 360-approach that will engage and excite their audiences across audio, video, live experiences, merch, and more.”

The Kelce brothers’ podcast has garnered a substantial following, consistently ranking as the top sports podcast during the football season on both Apple and Spotify, as per Wondery’s claims. Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jason Kelce, a former player for the Philadelphia Eagles, co-host the podcast. Travis Kelce has also gained additional public interest due to his relationship with popular musical artist Taylor Swift.

In a joint statement, the Kelce brothers expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We love this show, and the fanbase that has grown with us over the last two seasons. Wondery understands the shared vision and will offer a wealth of experience and resources to take us to New Heights! We are going to create some groundbreaking moments together through this partnership.”

Despite the new arrangement, “New Heights” will remain accessible on various podcast services. Additionally, it will be available ad-free for subscribers of Wondery+, Amazon’s subscription podcast service priced at $5.99 per month.

Podcast deals have evolved over time. Initially, companies like Spotify offered large upfront sums to creators for exclusive content available solely on their platforms. However, not all these deals proved successful, prompting a shift towards ad sales partnerships.

In July, Wondery, based in Culver City, secured an $80 million deal with comedian Dax Shepard for his “Armchair Expert” podcast, according to the Wall Street Journal. Prior to this, Shepard had an agreement with Spotify.

Football has also been a significant draw on Amazon Prime Video, particularly through “Thursday Night Football,” which has succeeded in attracting a younger audience compared to traditional TV broadcasts.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal