iHeartMedia and Ozy Media announce multi-year deal

Mountain View CA, New York NY, USA—iHeartMedia and OZY Media announce a new multi-year deal to co-produce and promote a slate of iHeartRadio Original Podcasts, with three shows set to be released in 2020 and distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. The partnership reflects iHeartRadio’s focus on growing its library of high-quality original podcasts for its hundreds of millions of listeners across the country and OZY Media’s continued expansion into original content for audio and TV.

“OZY’s global suite of diverse storytellers and story-finders focuses on what’s new and what’s next. These podcasts reflect the desire of younger audiences to broaden their minds and think bigger,” said Carlos Watson, co-founder and CEO of OZY Media. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the massively talented team at iHeartMedia to co-produce powerful and diverse podcasts for listeners.”

The first co-produced podcast in the slate will be “Around the World,” a travel and culture podcast featuring stories of changemakers and renegades from around the world who are doing the unexpected in the face of adversity. The content will originate from OZY’s groundbreaking year-long editorial project that saw them report three stories from every country on earth. The two additional podcasts set to launch this year include a spin-off series from OZY’s “The Thread” and a scripted series.

These narratives draw from OZY’s cutting-edge digital news stories and have evolved into podcasts that appeal to a wide range of curious listeners interested in seeing a broader and bolder world. In addition to co-producing the new slate of original podcasts, two of OZY’s existing news and culture podcasts – “The Thread” and “OZY Confidential” – will join the iHeartPodcast Network’s deep catalog of podcast titles.

“The OZY team has a remarkable way of reporting on stories that really make people think and often change the way we see important issues,” said Will Pearson, COO of the iHeartPodcast Network. “They have an impressive ability to find fascinating stories before anyone else is reporting on them and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them to bring these voices to iHeart and into the world of podcasting.”

As part of the deal, iHeartMedia and OZY Media will work together to co-produce these original podcasts for distribution and promotion across iHeartMedia’s multiple platforms including broadcast radio stations, iHeartRadio, its digital streaming platform, as well as its social media channels. As the largest publisher of podcasts in the country, the iHeartPodcast Network has more than 750 original shows available to listeners nationwide.

About iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month – and with its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. The company’s leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 850 live broadcast stations in over 150 markets; digital radio via its iHeartRadio digital service available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices; through its on-air influencers; social; branded iconic live music events; and podcasts as the #1 commercial podcast publisher. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio product, using data from its massive consumer base. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

About OZY Media

OZY Media is a next-generation media and entertainment company delivering unique and relevant stories and experiences across multiple mediums, from original series and investigative editorial to addictive podcasts and live events. OZY aims to help curious people see the world more broadly and more boldly by introducing them to “the New and the Next” — narratives that defy convention, change perspectives and ignite ideas. Started as a digital magazine in 2013, OZY has evolved into a modern media company, with 8 original TV series with leading networks, including Amazon, Hulu, OWN, PBS and BBC. Led by Emmy Award–winning journalist Carlos Watson and co-founder Samir Rao, OZY Media is based in Mountain View, California, and backed by leading Silicon Valley investors such as Emerson Collective, Ron Conway, Marc Lasry and Tom Franco, with a significant investment from German publishing giant Axel Springer. Learn more at OZY.com.