Disney+, Hulu ink podcast deal with iHeart
Disney+, Hulu ink podcast deal with iHeart
The deal will see “Hey Jonas!” and other podcasts stream on the Disney platforms.
Disney+ is taking a bigger jump into the world of podcasts. The streamer already hosts a selection of pods, and it’s adding to those shows after a new distribution deal with iHeartMedia. The agreement will bring more rewatch and companion podcasts to both Disney+ and Hulu, including shows that tie into other properties that can be streamed on those platforms.
Key Details:
- Coming soon: Disney+ and Hulu will launch new podcasts on Aug. 14.
- Familiar faces: Shows launching include “Hey “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” and “Hey Jonas!”
- Head to head: Disney+’s biggest competitor, Netflix, also has a podcast licensing deal with iHeartMedia.
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Disney+ and Hulu will welcome a selection of six iHeartMedia podcasts as a result of the new deal: “Desparately Devoted,” “Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald,” “Hey Jonas!,” “StraightioLab,” and “Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim.” Video episodes of “Pod Meets World” will also stream on Disney+ as part of the deal.
Many of the shows coming to Disney+ and Hulu tie in with titles that are already available on the streamers, including The Jonas Brothers podcast “Hey Jonas!” and “Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald,” a “Scrubs” rewatch podcast featuring the show’s stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison. In an ideal world for Disney, the launch of these podcasts will lead to more engagement overall with its streaming platforms.
“Fans can’t get enough of the stories and talent they love, and podcasts have become one of the fastest-growing ways for audiences to connect with them,” Disney executive Lauren Tempest said. “These new video podcasts from iHeartMedia bring fans closer to their favorite worlds and the creators behind them, and we’re thrilled to make them available on Disney+ and Hulu as part of an even richer streaming experience.”
Netflix also has a far-ranging podcast licensing deal with iHeart, streaming more than 15 of its top titles. Recent data indicates viewership is relatively low for these podcasts so far, but perhaps Disney’s more targeted approach to podcast licensing will yield better early returns.
“Podcasting continues to evolve as audiences increasingly want to engage with the shows and personalities they love in more ways and across more platforms,” iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman said. “Disney+ and Hulu have built powerful streaming destinations with incredibly passionate fan communities, making them ideal partners to expand the reach of these beloved iHeartPodcasts. From iconic rewatch series and fan-favorite conversations to original storytelling, this deal gives both existing listeners and new viewers an easy way to discover and connect with some of podcasting’s most engaging voices through video.”
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Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”
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Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid's Tale.”
