Reports that Apple wants to strengthen its own podcast presence have been with us for some time. Now the podcast network Wondery is said to be in the running.
The usually well-informed news site Bloomberg reported Now there is talk that Apple could acquire Wondery, which could be the biggest podcast acquisition yet, according to people familiar with the matter.
Wondery is seeking $300 million to $400 million in a potential sale, said the people, who asked not to be identified because negotiations are ongoing.
Wondery reaches around eight million people every month
Apple is one of four companies in talks about a takeover. Spotify is also said to have been at the negotiating table. However, the streaming provider has dropped out of the race - according to the source.
Apple and Sony are two of at least four companies that have discussed a deal with Wondery, according to one of the people. Although Spotify Technology SA has been the most aggressive buyer of podcasting companies over the past two years, the Swedish audio giant has withdrawn from the race, two people with knowledge of the talks said. A deal is expected in the coming months but there is no guarantee the talks will be successful.
Wondery is one of the largest independent podcast networks with a monthly audience of over eight million people. Apple is already working with the studio on a project for Apple TV+ that will follow the story of WeWork. The report continues:
Apple TV+ to be combined with podcasts
It's possible that the price tag could deter some would-be bidders, especially since the podcasting industry is still quite small. But Wondery has a number of podcasts that could be turned into TV series and other content. The company is already developing more than a dozen TV shows based on its podcasts, including a show for Apple about the rise and fall of WeWork.
It has been reported in the past that Apple apparently wants to combine its own TV+ content with podcasts. Overall, the company seems to be striving to expand its own presence in this area and build a bridge to Apple TV+. Have you already discovered the early Black Friday offers on Amazon? It's worth being quick. (Photo by Christian Horz / Bigstockphoto)
