Acast partners with JioSaavn to expand its podcast network to South Asia
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Global podcast giant Acast has partnered with JioSaavn, South Asia’s largest audio streaming platform, to enable it to leverage Acast’s extensive global network of shows. The partnership expands JioSaavn’s content offering exponentially, providing access to Acast’s infrastructure and the latest advances in podcast technology.
The clear appetite for audio in South Asia — shown through JioSaavn’s existing 104 million+ Monthly Active User (MAU) base — is paramount to Acast’s understanding of the huge opportunity for podcasts in the market. And Acast and JioSaavn will align on one central mission: to popularize podcasts in South Asia.
The companies’ aim is to educate listeners on both the merits of podcasts — including the flexibility to listen anywhere at any time — and the opportunity they provide to share culturally diverse, compelling content with global voices.
Speaking of the partnership, Acast’s Chief Business and Strategy Officer Leandro Saucedo said:
“It’s Acast’s mission to bring podcasts to all ears, all over the world. We’ve been aware of the changing audio landscape in India for some time and, in JioSaavn, we’ve found the biggest and most impactful audio streaming platform in the region — dynamic, bold and ready to push boundaries, and the perfect partner to share our podcasts with.
“There’s an audience hungry for audio in India, and we want to help give these listeners access to the extraordinary content emerging from all corners of the world, from incredible podcasting talent and recognized publishers.”
In light of the partnership with Acast, Ishani Dasgupta, Lead - Podcast Partnerships at JioSaavn, said:
“Podcasting is still largely nascent to consumers in the Indian market, with momentum growing quickly. The ability to grow and build new audiences, new shows, and establish pathways for brands to access both is really just beginning for our 1.3 billion potential consumer market. As the leading podcast company globally, Acast recognizes this opportunity.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering to integrate its robust catalogue and unique vision for content development and acquisition in India and beyond. We look forward to working closely with Acast to grow overall podcast engagement among listeners in India, as well as to join creative forces on future content that speaks to India’s diverse cultural palette.”
The infrastructure of the partnership provides a platform for Indian voices, enabling new independent podcasters to produce content, and connects JioSaavn with Acast’s large collection of global publishers including The Guardian, The Economist, Financial Times, BBC, VICE, PBS NewsHour, The Times and many more.
Acast and JioSaavn believe connecting South Asia to this content in particular – already generating 200+ million listens on a monthly basis in Europe and North America alone – will help both expand such content beyond borders, and encourage and provide publishers with the opportunity to reach new audiences and create bespoke content with them in mind.
Over the next two months the full effect of Acast and JioSaavn’s partnership will be visible, with Acast’s content appearing in full through JioSaavn.
About Acast
Acast is the engine powering podcast creators, advertisers and listeners everywhere. Its services are the most sophisticated available and are constantly being updated with innovative new tools and functionality.
Acast hosts and monetizes the world’s leading podcasts including My Dad Wrote A Porno, Off Menu, David Tennant Does a Podcast With, The Adam Buxton Podcast, Watch What Crappens, Australian True Crime, and those from publishers such as VICE, Vogue, HuffPost, Complex, The Economist, The Guardian, BBC, and PBS NewsHour.
Co-founded in Sweden in 2014 by Johan Billgren, Acast’s team of audio lovers is creating a sustainable and open podcast ecosystem — ensuring the whole industry continues to grow and flourish. The company has teams on the ground in 13 markets around the world, including in the UK, US, Australia, France, and Germany.
About JioSaavn
Founded in 2007 as Saavn, JioSaavn is an audio streaming service for South Asian music and artists. In March 2018, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) acquired a majority stake in JioSaavn, making it the largest music streaming service in India with millions of monthly active users.
The company has 900+ label partnerships and growing, including Universal, Sony, T-Series, Tips, YRF, Saregama, Eros and Warner Music. In addition to 50 million tracks in 16 languages, JioSaavn -- honored by Fast Company as one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies -- also offers a slate of original, non-music audio programs ranging from Bollywood to comedy, storytelling to cricket.
In 2016, JioSaavn expanded its content offering into Original Programming. Having grown significantly since then, JioSaavn Podcasts has created over 200 hours of original content and hosts a suite of new programming covering a wide range of relatable topics, like parenting, storytelling & culture, lifestyle & health and film & TV. The company has developed well-known, category defining podcasts such as #NoFilterNeha, Kahaani Express, Bhai ke Raapchick Reviews and Talking Music. JioSaavn Podcasts has also created noteworthy partnerships with independent creators and creator networks across the world.
JioSaavn’s team of 300+ works across offices in Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, New York and California. For more information, visit www.jio.com/jiosaavn
This is a press release which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand. We may make small edits for editorial reasons.
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