More than a dozen new co-produced podcasts are part of a new alliance between the business news giant Bloomberg and iHeartMedia. The two companies announced they are teaming up in an exclusive multiyear partnership to co-produce and distribute new original podcasts. Under the deal, iHeart will also distribute Bloomberg’s existing slate of over 20 podcasts through the iHeartPodcast Network.
“We are excited to partner with Bloomberg, not only to grow the audience of their existing slate of great shows, but to develop a whole new list of titles across the next several years, combining their editorial expertise with our mass reach and monetization,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group in the announcement.
The first four new co-produced iHeartRadio Original podcasts will take a broad view on business topics, covering subject areas like financial crime or the cost of climate change or the future of an industry. The new podcasts will begin rolling out later this year.
Bloomberg is not a podcast newcomer. It already produces a lineup of business-related podcasts including the incredibly popular Masters in Business, Odd Lots, Foundering, and The Pay Check, among others.
“We continue to see growth with our chart-topping, award-winning podcasts, as we had 26% increase in podcast downloads in 2020,” said M. Scott Havens, Chief Growth Officer and Global Head of Strategic Partnerships at Bloomberg Media. “New platforms such as the iHeartMedia network extends our reach with new audiences who are seeking quality, premium content,” he said in a statement.
Bloomberg and iHeartMedia are already in business on the radio dial with several iHeart-owned radio stations airing its broadcast content including “News Radio 850” KOA Denver and “News Radio 1200” WOAI San Antonio.