Audiochuck Expands Beyond Podcasts With New TV And Film Production Unit.

On the heels of inking a distribution deal with Tubi, fans of Audiochuck’s true crime can soon look forward to seeing more on-screen content from the company. Audiochuck is launching a new division focused on producing television and film content in a move it says marks the media company’s evolution into a vertically integrated studio. Audiochuck — the home of the hit true-crime series “Crime Junkie” — says it plans to not both acquire and develop intellectual property while also adapting its podcast franchises for global streaming video audiences.

“Audiochuck has built one of the strongest franchise engines in podcasting,” said Matt Starker, CEO of Audiochuck. “TV and film are the next step. We are adapting, developing and acquiring premium IP for global platforms, delivering it with the same discipline and storytelling standards that define our work.”

The new effort will be led by Matt Shanfield, who has been hired as Audiochuck’s first Head of Television and Film. He joins from Sony Pictures Television’s Nonfiction group, where he served as Executive VP of Development at The Intellectual Property Corporation, acquired by Sony four years ago. He has also had roles executive producing hits like “Secrets of Playboy,” developing the upcoming Netflix nonfiction series “CLUE,” and producing “Shark Tank.” Audiochuck says that work across multiple genres will allow Shanfield to bridge the gap between Audiochuck’s massive library of existing IP and the global streaming landscape. He will also spearhead Audiochuck’s acquisition of high-impact external projects.

“Audiochuck has cultivated a level of audience loyalty that is unparalleled in the industry,” Shanfield said in a statement. “The opportunity to build a sustainable, in-house screen content division from such a rich well of IP is a dream scenario. We aren’t just adapting podcasts; we are building a premium production ecosystem that honors authentic storytelling while dominating the global media landscape.”

The move into TV and film follows a shift to Red Seat Ventures last October, giving the Fox-owned company distribution and advertising sales rights. That has already led to a deal to begin distributing versions of Ashley Flowers’ “Crime Junkie” on Fox’s Tubi streaming service. Additional Audiochuck titles will be added to Tubi later this year. The company has produced more than 20 shows, including podcasts like “The Deck,” “So Supernatural,” “Dark Downeast,” and “Park Predators,” among others.