![]() One of the areas she’s most excited about is smart speakers, specifically Amazon’s Alexa, and the potential to link premium podcast listening with the devices. “We’re just starting to exploit it,” Sargent said. Sargent acknowledged that other companies had been interested in acquiring Wondery she wouldn’t identify them, but Apple and Sony Music Entertainment also held deal talks with the company, Bloomberg previously reported. We have big aspirations for growing… and Amazon Music has had tremendous growth these last few years.” “When we first started talking to Amazon, one of the things that clicked with me was customer focus – customer obsession works its way into every conversation at Amazon,” Sargent said. Death,” “Bad Batch,” “The Shrink Next Door,” “Business Wars,” “Joe Exotic: Tiger King,” “American History Tellers,” “Tides of History,” “The Daily Smile” and “Imagined Life.”įor Wondery, an important revenue stream has been deals to adapt its most popular original podcasts for TV. Currently, the company has 18 different projects in various stages at different studios. Sargent said that while “we are having a lot of conversations with Amazon Studios” about adapting Wondery shows, there’s not any kind of first-look deal with the corporate sibling: “We will continue to find the best home for our IP.”Īmong its TV deals: Apple is adapting “The Shrink Next Door,” based on the podcast from Wondery and Bloomberg Media, as a dark comedy starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn. Universal Content Productions is developing a “Joe Exotic” show based on the Wondery podcast (separate from Netflix’s “Tiger King” docu-series) with Kate McKinnon set to star and executive produce. UCP also is producing a series adaptation of Wondery’s “Dr. Death” for NBCUniversal’s Peacock, starring Joshua Jackson, Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin. Sargent believes the TV shows will help Wondery gain more exposure - and pick up new listeners for its original podcasts. Getting that above 50% will be a tipping point, and Wondery wants to actively “create those on-ramps for topics people are interested in.” adults (116 million people) are monthly podcast listeners, per Triton Digital/Edison Research’s latest research. Meanwhile, Wondery Plus - the company’s subscription service providing early access to shows and exclusive content - is continuing under Amazon’s wing. Wondery Plus, available via the dedicated app that Wondery launched last summer, costs $4.99 per month or $34.99 for an annual subscription. “The way we’re thinking of it is, the Amazon Music app is a fantastic music experience and starting experience for podcasts,” Sargent said. ![]() It’s meant to super-serve our most passionate fans.”īefore joining Wondery in 2018, Sargent was president of Uproxx Media (after the company acquired entertainment site HitFix, which she had co-founded). Prior to HitFix, she worked at companies including Reed Business Information, BV Capital/Bertelsmann Ventures, DoubleClick and JP Morgan. The company was valued at $100 million in July 2019.Prior to its acquisition by Amazon, Wondery had raised about $15 million from investors including Lerer Hippeau, Greycroft, BDMI, Advancit Capital, Water Tower Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures and Waverley Capital, the VC firm formed by Edgar Bronfman Jr. The talks valued Wondery at over $300 million, according to the publication. The Wall Street Journal reported on December 2 that Amazon was in talks to buy the podcast maker. The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that Lopez will leave Wondery after the deal closes and the company’s Chief Operating Officer Jen Sargent will take over the leadership team. “When the deal closes, nothing will change for listeners, and they’ll continue to be able to access Wondery podcasts through a variety of providers,” Amazon said in a statement.Įarlier in 2020, Wondery CEO Chief Executive Hernan Lopez was charged with wire fraud and money laundering alongside two former FOX TV executives. A Wondery spokesperson did not return a request for comment.Īmazon noted in its announcement of the deal that Wondery’s podcasts would continue to be available on platforms outside of Amazon Music. It is unclear how the deal could impact future film and television adaptations of Wondery’s podcasts. Writers Guild Wants the Government to Keep Disney, Amazon, and Netflix from Getting Any Bigger
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