Sports Illustrated and SI Studios struck a deal with iHeartMedia – Deadline

except: Sports Illustrated And 101 studiojoint venture sponsored Sports Illustrated Studios Is to release a list of original podcasts after making an audio deal with them iHeartMedia.

The deal will see the companies co-produce eight new podcast series and will also see Sports Illustrated’s existing podcast run through the iHeartPodcast Network.

Sports Illustrated will produce sports editorial and analysis podcasts, while Sports Illustrated Studios, a joint venture between Yellowstone 101 Studios producer and Sports Illustrated Group owner Authentic Brands Group will produce text podcasts, limited series and feature shows.

The first from SI Studios is a true crime series Collateral damage, which tells the story of Berkeley football player Mariette Ford, who played a key role in “The Play,” one of the most exciting plays in sports history. He was later convicted of brutally killing his young son and pregnant wife. Maintaining his innocence for nearly 25 years, the podcast will explore the indelible impact of the murder on the core group of people in Ford’s field. It will be launched early next year.

Launching later this year Sports Illustrated Weekly, Which will showcase the best of brand journalism in audio form. The 45-minute episodes will feature the week’s biggest news.

The deal comes as Sports Illustrated Studios ramps up its content with series such as a documentary series about sexual assault and cover-ups at Ohio State University, co-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov Smokehouse Pictures, Heaven found Based on the true story of high school football coach Rick Prinze and a feature film red rose crew Based on the thrilling true story of the US International Women’s Crew Team.

“Storytelling is at the heart of what SI stands for, and the opportunity to partner with iHeart to create and distribute dynamic stories and shows showcasing our incredible voices expands our presence,” said Ross Levinson, CEO of Sports Illustrated & Maven. Today, Sports Illustrated reaches more than 50 million visitors per month across all of the site’s integrated channels.

“We are thrilled to partner with Sports Illustrated to bring you a brand new slate of sports podcasts – both limited series and ongoing shows, to listeners everywhere,” added Kunal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “It’s a premium brand that sports fans will immediately trust, knowing they will get the most credible and in-depth industry coverage, and we look forward to expanding this footprint into the audio space through the iHeartPodcast network, where we uniquely have the reach and scale to bring Sports Illustrated to the public. and earn the income they deserve.

“Whereas sports have traditionally focused heavily on appearance, this project allows us to introduce audiences to the most memorable events in the history of sports in unexpected ways, which precisely form the basis of SI Studios. Through this new partnership, Sports Illustrated, the brand’s most Sports trust, and iHeartMedia, the industry’s leading publisher and distributor of podcasts, have a unique opportunity to tell these fascinating historical stories to a global audience,” said David Hotkin, COO of 101 Studios.