Travis and Jason Kelce have signed a reported $100 million podcast deal with Amazon, $AMZN
Travis and Jason Kelce have signed a reported $100 million podcast deal with Amazon, $AMZN.Travis and Jason Kelce have signed a reported $100 million podcast deal with Amazon, $AMZN.
The three-year agreement, unveiled on Tuesday, grants Wondery's audio network exclusive multimedia rights to the popular New Heights podcast hosted by brothers Travis and Jason Kelce. The Kelce brothers expressed their excitement about the deal as they prepare for the show's third season.
Launched in 2022, the New Heights podcast features celebrity interviews and conversations about the brothers' personal lives, all delivered with their signature sibling humor. Travis, 34, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, has gained additional fame as the boyfriend of pop icon Taylor Swift. His older brother Jason, 36, recently retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and now serves as an analyst for ESPN.
This deal underscores the growing popularity of sports podcasts and the podcasting industry in general. New Heights was named Podcast of the Year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards. Wondery CEO Jen Sargent noted, "New Heights may appear to be a sports podcast, but it has transcended into a cultural phenomenon, tapping into the current zeitgeist."
According to Nielsen's recent analysis, podcast listenership in the U.S. has surged by 45% over the past five years, with over 183 million Americans now tuning in. Similar trends are evident in the UK, where global podcast ad revenue has skyrocketed, reaching billions, according to PwC. The shift reflects changing consumption habits, especially among younger audiences, who are increasingly turning to podcasts over traditional television.
The Kelce brothers' deal with Wondery follows a similar partnership the company signed with comedian and podcaster Dax Shepard last month. Other high-profile podcast deals include Joe Rogan's $100 million contract with Spotify and Alex Cooper's move to Sirius XM. Additionally, it was announced earlier this year that Travis Kelce would host the U.S. game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? for Amazon.