iHeartMedia and WarnerMedia Ink Deal To Co-Produce Podcasts For HBO Max

iHeartRadio and WarnerMedia Entertainment announced last week a partnership to co-produce a complement of podcasts for HBO Max’s upcoming catalog of original and legacy shows.

HBO MAX launched its streaming subscription service on May 27, 2020.

The first podcasts to debut will include companion podcasts for the comedy thriller series “Search Party,” created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers and Michael Showalter, and sci-fi drama “Raised by Wolves,” directed and executive produced by Ridley Scott. These podcasts, along with the entire slate of co-produced companion podcasts, will be available on HBO Max, iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Primarily set in New York City, “Search Party” follows a group of privileged, self-absorbed twenty-somethings whose search for a long-lost missing friend leads them down a dark and shocking path of no return. The first two seasons of the show are currently available on HBO Max and all episodes of Season 3 will debuted on June 25.

“Raised by Wolves” centers around two androids, Father and Mother, tasked with raising human children on a mysterious new planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task.

This new roster of podcasts will play as standalone productions in their own right, but will often center around and help promote HBO Max programming. As part of the deal, iHeartMedia will also get a first-look priority to produce HBO Max podcasts during the term of the agreement.

Moreover, iHeartMedia and WarnerMedia Entertainment will both commit marketing resources to promote the podcasts and other HBOMax content across the iHeartPodcast Network and other iHeartMedia broadcast and digital platforms. Together, WarnerMedia Entertainment and iHeartMedia may also produce podcasts for WarnerMedia Entertainment’s television networks, TNT, TBS and truTV.

“We look forward to working with iHeartMedia as we continue to find new ways to break ground and create opportunities for our storytellers to do what they do best,” said Kevin Reilly, President, TBS, TNT, and truTV and Chief Content Officer, HBO Max in a press release. “Today’s streaming fans are hungry for more content the second they finish an episode of their favorite shows, and podcasts are a great way to keep those fans engaged while also giving our roster of creative talent additional tools to extend the worlds of their shows and stories.”

HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering, which debuted May 27, 2020 and offers subscribers content from HBO, a rich library including motion picture and TV series from Warner Bros., and catalog titles from DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and more. 

“We’re beyond thrilled to forge this new partnership with WarnerMedia Entertainment to create an exciting slate of companion podcasts based on the incredible content coming to HBO Max,” said Conal Byrne, President, iHeartPodcast Network in the same press release. “WarnerMedia Entertainment’s networks and brands have long been a marvel in the entertainment industry, and we’re ecstatic for the opportunity to be a part of their legendary storytelling and to bring this trove of new content to the iHeartPodcast Network.”

iHeart Media is one of the largest podcast publishers in the industry.

iHeartMedia is an audio company that extends across multiple platforms, including more than 850 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide, iHeartRadio digital service available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices, and podcasts as one of the largest commercial podcast publishers.

The alliance between iHeart Media and WarnerMedia illustrates how established media companies are pushing into the podcasting space as the podcast industry grows in popularity and continues to gain in "ears."