NFL Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce Sign Groundbreaking $100 Million Podcast Deal with Amazon’s Wondery for Exclusive Rights to New Heights Show
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
3 minutes read. Updated 2:44PM GMT Wed, 28August, 2024
In a landmark move in the world of sports and entertainment, NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce have clinched a staggering $100 million (£75 million) podcast deal with Amazon. This three-year agreement, unveiled on Tuesday, grants Amazon’s Wondery audio network exclusive multimedia rights to the Kelce brothers’ highly acclaimed podcast, New Heights.
The Kelces expressed their enthusiasm for the deal as they gear up for the third season of their podcast. Since its inception in 2022, New Heights has captivated audiences with its blend of celebrity interviews and personal anecdotes, all delivered with the signature humor of the Kelce siblings.
Travis Kelce, 34, known for his Super Bowl victories with the Kansas City Chiefs, has recently garnered additional fame as the partner of pop superstar Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, his older brother Jason, 36, retired after an impressive 13-season tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jason has transitioned to a new role as an analyst with ESPN.
This major podcast deal underscores the soaring popularity of sports-related podcasts and the broader podcasting landscape. New Heights was honored as Podcast of the Year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards, highlighting its significant cultural impact.
Jen Sargent, CEO of Wondery, remarked on the podcast’s success: “New Heights on the surface is a sports podcast, and sports is such a well-listened-to category. But it’s become a cultural phenomenon, they’re all in that zeitgeist.”
Recent data from Nielsen reveals a dramatic increase in podcast listenership, with the number of Americans tuning in rising by 45% over the past five years, and doubling in the past decade to a total of 183 million. This trend is mirrored in the UK, where podcast advertising revenue has surged, reflecting a shift towards digital audio consumption over traditional television.
The Kelce brothers’ deal with Wondery follows a similar high-profile agreement made by comedian and podcaster Dax Shephard last month. Other notable podcast deals include Joe Rogan’s $100 million partnership with Spotify and Alex Cooper’s transition to SiriusXM. Earlier this year, Travis Kelce also announced his role as host of the US game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, set to air on Amazon.
