ViacomCBS Scales Audio Footprint to Fuel Fandom and Extend Iconic Franchises at IAB Podcast Upfront
May 13 2021 - 2:25PM
Business Wire
New and expanded partnership with iHeartMedia
for Nickelodeon-produced podcasts based on animated series Avatar:
The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants
Over 20 podcasts to premiere in 2021, including
all-new and returning favorites from Awesomeness, BET, CBS News,
CBS Studios, CBS Sports, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Noggin, MTV
Entertainment Group, Paramount Network, and SHOWTIME® Sports
*Click here for art
ViacomCBS today announced an expanded podcast footprint,
featuring brand-new and returning hit series that build on beloved
franchises and iconic IP from Awesomeness, BET, CBS News, CBS
Studios, CBS Sports, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Noggin, MTV
Entertainment Group, Paramount Network and SHOWTIME Sports. This
robust slate will super serve consumers across comedy, news, true
crime, sports, kids, entertainment, and music, reinforcing the
company’s strategy to create premium content and experiences for
audiences worldwide.
Since unveiling the company’s unified podcast slate at the IAB’s
Podcast Upfront in September 2020, ViacomCBS has seen a nearly 14%
increase in downloads year-over-year and is on track to produce
over 120 shows, including more than 20 podcast premieres, this year
alone.
“ViacomCBS is thrilled to return to the Podcast Upfront
following a year of remarkable momentum and growth in the digital
audio space,” said Steve Raizes, Senior Vice President, ViacomCBS
Podcasts. “Honoring the quality and value of the company’s
world-renowned content, this enhanced podcast slate will offer an
organic pipeline for advertising partners to reach diverse
audiences in a premium environment at scale.”
ViacomCBS also introduced a new and expanded partnership with
iHeartMedia, where Nickelodeon will exclusively create podcasts
from two of the brand's most cherished franchises: Avatar: The Last
Airbender and The Legend of Korra and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Additionally, ViacomCBS announced BET’s podcasting initiatives,
emphasizing the massive demand for content from leading Black
creators and reflecting the tremendous relevance, influence, and
popularity of Black culture across the general entertainment
ecosystem. BET will develop podcasts that will serve as a natural
extension of the brand’s concerted investment in digital
content.
Podcast titles from the upcoming slate include:
CBS News
- CBS Eye on Money with Jill Schlesinger – host Jill
Schlesinger, CFP®, tackles sometimes uncomfortable and even
controversial money and investing issues without the financial
jargon to get to the heart of what’s important for anyone to know.
Jill takes listener phone calls and interviews informative and
entertaining guests each week to uncover surprising insights and
provide actionable information so listeners can make the most of
their money from CBS News.
- She Makes the Rules – a podcast about rule-makers,
record-setters, and rebel women who’d rather boss up than back
down. They do not back down, they’re never intimidated, they’re
never afraid to speak truth to power. When something isn’t right,
they take a stand. Join CBS News as we take a look at some of the
key women that have been Rule-makers and Rule-breakers.
- Risking it All – most of us don’t experience
heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping, high-stakes risks in our daily
lives. But what if your job was all about taking those kinds of
risks? That’s precisely what Dr. Sandra Magnus, a former NASA
astronaut, and retired Navy Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld explore
in their weekly podcast, Risking It All. Listen to conversations
with professional risk-takers, including a deep-sea diver, a heart
surgeon, an NFL quarterback, a secret agent, and more. Get a
behind-the-scenes look at how these pros live life on the
edge.
MTV Entertainment Group
- Behind the Music (MTV) – the legendary series Behind the
Music is expanding to audio with a companion podcast to the
Paramount+ series, featuring career-spanning stories told by your
favorite artists.
- Beyond the Scenes from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
(Comedy Central) – host and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
correspondent Roy Wood Jr. gives listeners an inside look into how
producers and writers of the Emmy®-winning series use comedy to
tackle a variety of complex topics – from racial injustice to sex
robots – and where these issues stand today. Beyond the Scenes
features a rotating cast of The Daily Show correspondents including
Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, Desi Lydic, and Dulcé
Sloan.
- Wild ‘N Out (VH1) – one of the most social series in the
world, Wild ’N Out will continue to combine hip hop and improv
comedy, but now for your ears.
- Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – the most watched cable
show of 2020 debuts a companion podcast that gives fans exclusive
cast interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpse into the gritty,
modern-West community and culture behind the megahit –
Yellowstone.
Nickelodeon
- Avatar: Braving the Elements (40 episodes, premieres
Tuesday, June 22, 2021) – enter the amazing world of Avatar
through the official companion podcast from Nickelodeon. Join hosts
Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of
Prince Zuko) each week as they re-watch every episode of Avatar:
The Last Airbender and break down key themes, notable battles, and
behind-the-scenes trivia. Special guests from cast members to
producers join them to explore elements of the Avatarverse,
including the origins of the story and how Avatar was brought to
life.
- SpongeBob BingePants (40 episodes, premieres later this
year) – hosted by super-fans Frankie Grande (Henry Danger) and
Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry), the official SpongeBob
SquarePants re-watch podcast dives down to Bikini Bottom for a
recap of every episode, hilarious conversations, and
never-before-heard secrets about everyone’s favorite optimistic sea
sponge.
Other show updates include the recent launch of Fantasy
Baseball Today in 5 and a new sports-centric podcast from
“SHOWTIME Basketball” is coming soon.
Renewed fan-favorites include: Twin My Heart The Podcast
and Daily Report from Awesomeness; My Life of Crime
with Erin Moriarty, The Debrief with Major Garrett,
and The Takeout from CBS News; Star Trek: The Pod
Directive from CBS Studios; All Things Covered with Patrick
Peterson and Bryant McFadden, Nothing Personal with
David Samson and Fantasy Football Today from CBS Sports;
MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast from MTV and Catfish:
The Podcast from MTV in partnership with Wondery; Meet the
Alpha Beats from Noggin; and Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas
and Brian Campbell from SHOWTIME in partnership with CBS Sports
among others.
About ViacomCBS:
ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA) is a leading global media and
entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences
for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its
portfolio includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures,
Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and
Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the
largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the
industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film
titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and
digital video products, ViacomCBS provides powerful capabilities in
production, distribution and advertising solutions for partners on
five continents.
For more information about ViacomCBS, please visit
www.viacomcbs.com and follow @ViacomCBS on social platforms.
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Media Contact: Casey Moynagh,
casey.moynagh@viacomcbs.com
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