NFL Stars Travis and Jason Kelce Secure $100M Podcast Deal

d New Heights quickly acquire 1.5 million followers in the show’s first five months, and the podcast has 11.2 million followers/subscribers today, which is especially crazy considering they have less than 100 episodes of content to work withNFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce have officially signed a three-year, $100 million podcast distribution deal with Wondery, Amazon’s podcast network. The partnership grants Wondery exclusive audio and video rights to all new and existing content from their popular podcast, New Heights.

Launched in 2022, New Heights quickly attracted a loyal audience with its raw, authentic insights into the lives of professional football players. The show’s mix of humour, insider access, and brotherly banter resonated with both sports fans and casual listeners, making it one of the fastest-growing sports podcasts.

It goes beyond content distribution, giving Wondery exclusive rights to ad sales, live streaming, and international versions of the podcast. Additionally, Wondery will control all merchandise, including new consumer products. This deal, one of the largest in podcasting history, underscores the increasing value of athlete-driven content in today’s media landscape.

Wondery, which is part of the Amazon Music ecosystem, boasts 220 active shows that collectively record 72 million streams. Over 50 of these podcasts have reached #1 on Apple Podcasts. Wondery’s investment in the Kelce brothers is a calculated move, as New Heights was already selling seven-figure ad packages last year, with demand so high that inventory was booked months in advance.

New Heights quickly acquire 1.5 million followers in the show’s first five months, and the podcast has 11.2 million followers/subscribers today, with less than 100 episodes.

New Heights Social Media Following:

• YouTube: 2.42 million subscribers (+170% since September 2023)
• Instagram: 2.7 million followers (+303% since September 2023)
• TikTok: 4.3 million followers (+169% since September 2023)
• Twitter: 452k followers (+182% since September 2023)
• Facebook: 1.4 million followers

As athlete-led content continues to rise, the Kelce brothers’ $100 million podcast deal underscores the lucrative potential for athletes who leverage their personalities and fan bases in media ventures. This deal not only cements the Kelce brothers as influential media figures but also signals a broader trend in the sports industry, where athletes are becoming powerful content creators and brand builders. By merging sports, entertainment, and personal branding, they are setting new standards for athlete-driven media ventures.

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