Global expands Plus offering with six new podcast subscriptions
Global, the Media & Entertainment group, today announced the expansion of its Plus subscription offering, with six more of its biggest podcast brands now available ad-free on Global Player and YouTube, alongside exclusive content from selected shows.
The latest additions give listeners more ways to enjoy the podcasts and presenters they love, with subscribers able to access ad-free episodes and bonus content from some of Global’s most popular shows.
A single subscription to James O’Brien unlocks access to ad-free episodes of Full Disclosure with James O’Brien, James O’Brien Daily, James O’Brien - The Whole Show, and James O’Brien’s Mystery Hour. Subscribers can also enjoy exclusive new shows, including Ask James Anything, a weekly opportunity for listeners to put their questions directly to James, and James Reacts, a bonus series revisiting some of the funniest, most memorable and significant moments from his LBC shows, including stories and conversations he didn’t have time to explore fully on air. James will also be writing two newsletters a month, exclusively for James O’Brien Plus subscribers.
The Crime Agents Plus will offer subscribers a monthly deep dive into landmark criminal cases, combining research, expert insight and compelling storytelling. The first episode will examine the Lucy Letby case, exploring the investigation, trial, and wider questions for healthcare, policing and the justice system.
The new subscriptions for James O’Brien, My Therapist Ghosted Me, The Crime Agents, The Sports Agents, The Wittering Whitehalls, and Vogue & Amber join existing Plus offerings, including LBC’s Nick Abbot - The Whole Show and Up To Speed, the leading F1 podcast, with more chart-topping and award-winning Global shows set to join Plus soon.
Plus gives audiences more ways to enjoy Global’s radio and podcast content without ads, on Global Player and YouTube. Podcast subscriptions start from £2.99 a month or £29.99 a year for ad-free episodes, and from £4.99 or £49.99 for ad-free episodes plus exclusive content.
Simon Pitts, Group CEO of Global, said: "I’m delighted we’re expanding our Plus offering with subscriptions for some of our biggest and most popular podcast brands. We want to give audiences more choice to enjoy the podcasts and presenters they love, with exclusive content and new experiences alongside ad-free versions of the shows they already listen to, on Global Player and YouTube. And this is just the beginning. More chart-topping Global podcasts will be joining Plus very soon.”
Craig Hunter, Managing Director, Global Studios, added: “The best podcasts make listeners feel part of the conversation. Plus takes that connection further, with questions you can put directly to presenters, more room for expert analysis and stories that go beyond the main show. Our show subscriptions work like a members’ club, building a community of fans by offering special access and creating even more two-way conversation. We’ll have more in-depth content, expert analysis and reaction, members-only Q&As, and newsletters from behind the scenes. It’s all about giving our audiences more of what they love.”
Podcast Plus is part of Global’s suite of subscription products under the Plus brand. Launched in September and already seeing strong numbers, Radio Plus takes out adverts and fills breaks with songs, giving the listener a seamless ad-free experience across platforms. Plus covers ad-free for live radio on all of Global’s music brands and catch up on all its audio brands … and now podcasts.
About Global Media & Entertainment Limited
Global is one of the world’s leading Media & Entertainment groups. With a huge weekly reach, it is the UK and Europe’s largest Radio & Outdoor company.
Global is home to respected, national, market leading media brands including Capital, Heart, Classic FM, LBC, Global’s Newsroom, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold Radio.
Global Player, the official app for all our brands, is at the core of Global’s content, allowing listeners to enjoy all of Global’s brand content, both audio and video, as well as award-winning podcasts, and expertly-curated playlists, in one place in app, web and smart speakers.
With an extensive and diverse portfolio, Global is also the leading Outdoor company in the UK & one of the largest in Europe with over 235,000 sites reaching 95% of the UK population.
On-air, on Global Player and with our outdoor platforms combined, Global reaches 51 million individuals across the UK every week, including 29 million on the radio alone.
Global created and operates DAX, the market leader in digital audio advertising. Through its proprietary technology, DAX connects advertisers with an audience of more than 130 million people worldwide, inserting targeted advertising into music streaming services, connected radio listening and podcasts, and operates a pioneering platform in programmatic outdoor advertising.
The company headquarters is in London’s iconic Leicester Square. Ashley Tabor-King CBE is Founder & Executive President, Simon Pitts is Group CEO, Stephen Miron is Chairman and James Rea is Chief Broadcasting and Content Officer. Ashley Tabor-King created Global in 2007.
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.