The New York Times buys the company behind the ‘Serial’ podcast
The New York Times hasacquiredSerial Productions, the company who produces the popular podcast ‘Serial’, for an undisclosed sum.
It was also announced that The Times has entered into “an ongoing creative and strategic alliance” with ‘This American Life’, the immensely successful podcast series from which ‘Serial’ was a spin-off.
Serial Productions is run by executive editor Julie Snyder, Serial journalist Sarah Koenig, and Ira Glass, the host of ‘This American Life’,
The Times reported that the move is designed to expand its digital journalism and to allow Serial Productions to increase its number of shows. There have been three series of ‘Serial’ and one called ‘S-Town’.
‘Serial’ is credited with popularising the now standard, quintessentially American narrative-style podcast series.
🎧 We’re excited to announce that the@nytimesCompany will acquire@serialProductions and form a strategic alliance with@ThisAmerLife.https://t.co/JFKDFYdhO8pic.twitter.com/fTzvVVQgmo
The news comes the day that The Times also announced that itsCOO Meredith Kopit Levien will succeed Mark Thompson as CEOin September. In her current role, Levien said of the Serial Productions acquisition:
“We’ve seen the power that audio can have in building deeper connections with our audience and we’re committed to bringing listeners the best audio journalism in the world. What better way to show that commitment than by acquiring ‘Serial,’ the most celebrated and innovative podcast series ever produced and by partnering with ‘This American Life,’ a program that quite simply transformed the genre.”
With this acquisition, The Times is building its portfolio of successful podcasts to go along with ‘The Daily’, its weekday topical news show, and other hits like ‘1619, ‘Rabbit Hole’, and ‘Caliphate’.
Author: Henry Burrell, Contributor
Previously Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, Henry covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.
