ABC Audio, ESPN Audio Ink Sales Deal
• ABC Audio and ESPN Audio announced a new internal sales relationship — effective immediately, ABC Audio’s podcast network will be represented by ESPN Audio’s Ad Sales team. This move by the two business units reflects a strategic collaboration to further grow the podcast business across The Walt Disney Company. [Not That] Tom Brady, Sr. Director of ESPN Audio Ad Sales, announced the relationship during Wednesday’s RAIN Podcast Business Summit in New York City.
“Our goal for ABC Audio remains — to be a powerhouse of podcast production at ABC News and across Walt Disney Television,” said Stacia Philips Deshishku, VP/GM of ABC Audio. “Our award-winning, compelling podcast series and originals are just the start of the smart programming that our team will continue to roll out this year and beyond. Now, working with ESPN Audio, we have a unique opportunity to scale our podcast ad sales alongside those of other Disney business units and share synergies along the way.”
Tom Ricks, VP of ESPN Audio Digital Strategy and Marketing, stated, “Adding ABC Audio’s podcasts under the ESPN Audio sales umbrella will provide advertisers with one-stop shopping, enhancing the value and efficiency they receive from a larger stable of premium and compelling content. We reach complementary audiences – adding even more value for advertisers.”
ESPN Audio already handles ad sales for podcasts produced by FiveThirtyEight, National Geographic and its own network. With the addition of ABC Audio, ESPN will now offer buyers and advertisers media investment opportunities for ABC Audio’s existing hits, including The Dropout, Ten Percent Happier, daily news show Start Here, Have You Seen This Man?, Truth and Lies: Jeffrey Epstein and all forthcoming podcasts. Broadcast network radio sales for ABC Audio are represented by Skyview Networks.
