Wondery, one of the last major independent podcast networks, may soon be owned by Amazon. The companies today announced a procurement deal and end the speculation about who can finally buy the network, which is best known for true crime podcasts such as Dirty John. (Apple and Sony apparently also discussed at least one possible purchase.)
Amazon did not disclose the acquisition price, although earlier reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal suggests that Wondery’s value be at least $ 300 million. Wondery would technically be part of Amazon Music, which launched podcast support in September this year. Wonderful CEO Hernan Lopez will retire and leave the company when the deal closes, and COO Jen Sargent will take over, according to Wall Street Journal Reporter Ben Mullin.
The acquisition is notable, if only because it enables Amazon to compete better with Spotify, which has been acquiring networks and exclusive talent for more than a year. Amazon says this Wondery deal does not change existing shows – they will still be available through “a variety of providers”. But Amazon says it hopes Wondery will buy “accelerating the growth and evolution of podcasts by bringing creators, hosts and immersive experiences to even more listeners around the world.”
Of course, Amazon Music is likely to promote Wondery shows above other shows and possibly put even more marketing spend behind them, especially worldwide. Interestingly, Audible is not mentioned in the news release, though the Amazon company creates its own exclusive podcasts, as well as publicly available, and has recently introduced a cheaper price level specifically for people who want to hear Audible-exclusive.
Correction 12/30, 13:29 ET: This story said earlier that Wondery is now owned by Amazon, but the deal has not yet been finalized.
Update 12/30, 15:13 ET: Updated to reflect that Hernan Lopez will leave Wondery when the deal closes.