iHeartMedia

The Week Will Feature A Series Of Interviews With Thought Leaders And Trusted Community Voices To Help Educate Consumers About COVID-19 Vaccines; All Advertising On BIN During “It’s Up To You” Vaccine Education Week Will Be Donated By The Founding Partner Brands To Support The Ad Council and COVID Collaborative Campaign

iHeartMedia Will Also Launch A Series Of More Than 20 English And Spanish Audio PSAs Across Its 860 Broadcast Radio Stations Nationwide To Support The “It’s Up To You” Campaign To Reach As Many Consumers As Possible, Especially Those Hit Hardest By The Pandemic

NEW YORK, N.Y. – February 25, 2021 – BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective, announced today that it has joined with the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative to help kick off their “It’s Up To You” COVID-19 vaccine education initiative.

Despite the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color there are extremely high rates of vaccine hesitancy among these communities, rooted in a deep history of health inequities, mistrust and skepticism. To reach its audiences with messages that will resonate, BIN has adapted the Ad Council’s “It’s Up To You” COVID-19 vaccine education campaign and created a week-long schedule of programming designed to reaffirm the legitimacy of having questions about the vaccines, while at the same time answering questions and addressing concerns their audiences may have.

“Based on research, the Black community is the least likely group to be receptive to taking a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Tony Coles, President of BIN: Black Information Network. “Our goal is to present the most accurate news and information to help curb the future impact of COVID-19 on the communities we serve, by both answering questions around vaccination and providing resources for the public to get informed.”

BIN was founded on an innovative business model: instead of being supported by traditional advertising, BIN is enabled by a group of well-known brands as Founding Partners who provide long-term support to allow BIN to focus solely on its mission of building an important platform for Black journalism and trusted news. As a result of this innovative and unique advertising model, BIN has been able to bring together some of its Founding Partners including Bank Of America, CVS Health, Lowe’s, McDonald’s USA, Sony, 23andMe and Verizon, to contribute a week of advertising on BIN, using the platform to spark meaningful conversation fueled by trusted news and information. Collectively these leading consumer brands will donate over 1,300 hours of continuous media to spark a deeper conversation around the COVID-19 vaccine and address specific concerns within the Black community.

"Combining the collective power of BIN and the Ad Council will be one of the most effective partnerships to get the right information about the COVID-19 vaccine to the Black community," said Diego Scotti, CMO, Verizon. "With Verizon being a partner of both organizations, it is a proud moment to see the impact that can be made when the industry takes action together."

“As a Founding Partner of the Black Information Network and a member of the Ad Council Coalition, we recognize the opportunity to help address critical communication efforts around the importance of this vaccine,” said Meredith Verdone, Chief Marketing Officer of Bank of America. “This initiative will accelerate the impact of the Ad Council’s campaign within communities that continue to be disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus.”

“CVS’ partnership with BIN allows us to have an ongoing channel to reach Black consumers every day with important and timely COVID-19 and vaccine information,” said Norm de Greve, Chief Marketing Officer of CVS. “We were thrilled to see so many of the BIN partner brands band together with the network and the Ad Council to donate their airtime to help ensure these critical messages get heard in the local communities where they are most needed.”

“We are proud to partner with our franchisees to turn over our advertising time to BIN and the Ad Council to educate the community about COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Morgan Flatley, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s USA. “At McDonald’s, being a good neighbor is one of our core values, and we hope by using our resources as a BIN founding partner, we can help bring the Black community one step closer to overcoming this pandemic.”

“As a brand grounded in science and research, we are proud to support the Black Information Network and The Ad Council’s campaign to deliver trusted, balanced information around the data behind the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Tracy Keim, Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Brand, 23andMe. “Knowledge is power, and the campaign message “It’s Up To You” highlights the importance of being armed with the critical information necessary to make an informed health decision today and in the future.”

Beginning today through next week, BIN’s “It’s Up To You” Vaccine Education Week will feature hundreds of custom audio PSAs that bring to life the moments that we have all been missing and encourage listeners to get the facts so that they can make an informed decision about the COVID-19 vaccines; local news updates that provide specific details around local vaccination requirements and availability; interviews with medical experts around the safety and science behind the vaccines; hourly news coverage providing the most up-to-date information around the vaccine rollout; and a Sunday morning public affairs show dedicated to an open discussion about the vaccines and mistrust within the Black community.

Additionally, iHeartMedia today released a series of over 20 English and Spanish custom audio spots across its more than 860 broadcast radio stations nationwide as an extension of the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative “It’s Up To You” campaign that will be made available for other audio companies to use across their platforms. Through the power of audio, the all-new PSAs vividly bring to life the everyday moments we hope to get back to and encourage the public to get the facts to make an informed decision about the COVID-19 vaccines. From family gatherings to church worship, dinner with friends, baseball games and celebrations, the PSAs remind listeners of their own personal stakes in the fight against COVID-19 and the importance of making an informed decision about getting vaccinated.

The spots will run across all iHeartMedia radio stations beginning today and drive listeners to GetVaccineAnswers.org (DeTiDepende.org in Spanish), a website developed by the Ad Council in partnership with COVID Collaborative, which provides the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines, with the ultimate goal of helping the public feel confident and prepared to get vaccinated once they are able to.

“The work that BIN is doing is critical to ensuring millions of people are getting the information they need to make informed decisions about the COVID-19 vaccines – especially those hit hardest by the pandemic where we are seeing the highest rates of hesitancy,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “We are honored to partner with iHeartMedia, BIN and their incredible collaborators on this crucial week of action that will help educate audiences, inspire confidence in the vaccines and turn the tide of the pandemic.”

About The Ad Council

The Ad Council has a long history of creating life-saving public service communications in times of national crisis, starting in the organization's earliest days during World War II to September 11th and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. Its deep relationships with media outlets, the creative community, issue experts and government leaders make the organization uniquely poised to quickly distribute life-saving information to millions of Americans.

The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address many of the nation's most important causes. The Ad Council has created many of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels.

The Ad Council's innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council's communities on Facebook and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

iHeartMedia’s partnership with the leading UK podcasting company will include eleven new podcast docuseries over the next three years, focused on stranger-than-fiction true stories

NEW YORK – February 24, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced a new partnership with Novel, one of the UK’s leading independent podcast companies, to co-produce a series of narrative, in-depth investigative podcasts. Together, iHeartMedia and Novel will launch eleven new, original podcast series over the next three years, starting with “The Assault on America” and “Deliver Us From Ervil.”           

The expansive new slate features a collection of ambitious audio docuseries aimed at giving listeners access to worlds they never knew existed. From the real-life superheroes appearing at Black Lives Matter protests to a violent fundamentalist Mormon cult installed near the US-Mexican border, these new iHeartRadio Original Podcasts feature in-depth, narrative investigations of unexplored subcultures and stranger-than-fiction true stories.

"We're thrilled to be entering into such an exciting partnership with iHeartMedia,” said Sean Glynn, CEO of Novel. “Pairing Novel's best-in-class storytelling credentials with iHeartMedia's excellent editorial judgment and global distribution is an incredibly compelling combination.”

“This new partnership will allow us to produce deeply researched, narratively rich investigative series at scale that grip listeners right off the bat,” added Max O’Brien, Head of Content at Novel. “We couldn't be more proud to be the first UK-based podcast company to sign a slate deal with iHeartMedia."

In addition to announcing the deal, the companies also shared details on the first two podcast series set to debut as part of the partnership. 

“The Assault on America” tells the inside story of the insurrection at the Capitol like you’ve never heard before. Working with open-source investigative journalists Bellingcat, Novel painstakingly collected thousands of hours of smartphone footage, including 1,200 videos that directly incriminate protestors. Scouring the darkest corners of right-wing websites like 8chan, Parler and Gab, this series uncovers chilling, never-before-heard footage and comments posted by mob members. Much of this exclusive material has since been deleted from the web, but has been preserved by Bellingcat. Now, we’ll hear the events of January 6th brought to life in 360-degree detail.

“Deliver Us From Ervil” is an investigative true-crime series in which a groundbreaking team of journalists enters a lawless town on the border of Mexico run by a secretive religious sect living in exile and outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. government since 1924. The journalists will speak to the inhabitants of this strange town and uncover the secrets behind the surreal desert fortress with a murderous past that continues to haunt all who enter.     

“We’re eager to collaborate with the brilliant minds at Novel to bring listeners an incredible new lineup of history, true-crime and documentary podcasts,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Novel has a penchant for producing award-winning docuseries, and we couldn’t be more excited to join forces and bring their storytelling talent and expertise to the iHeartPodcast Network.”

The new slate of co-produced podcasts will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 253 million downloads and streams each month.

About Novel

Novel is one of the UK’s leading independent podcasting companies. The team is made up of 13 members of full-time in-house staff and two board members, one of whom is the former CEO of VICE UK. Recent highlights include: The Bellingcat Podcast (Audio Production Award Gold winner, two-time ARIA winner, British Podcast Award winner, PSA Political Podcast Of The Year — Financial Times: “Extraordinary in detail, tenacity and execution;” Esquire: “Clear-eyed original reporting … dramatic”); Kim Noble’s Futile Attempts (At Surviving Tomorrow) (The Observer: “Wilder and more interesting than almost everything else out there;” The Sunday Times: “Brutal and deeply compelling;” Financial Times: “Unlike anything else you’ve heard;” The Guardian: “Darkly comic and beautiful”); The Political Butterfly Effect (Sunday Times: “Neatly, briskly, sharply produced;” New Statesman: “Fun, forensic hypothesizing ;” Politico “Essential listening”) and Remembering Christopher Hitchens. Visit we-are-novel.com for more company information.

With Performances from Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, Jhené Aiko and Kirk Franklin Airing Nationwide On February 20 on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop, Gospel and R&B Broadcast Stations; iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook Pages; the iHeartRadio App; And Venues on Oculus Quest

Black History Month Celebration Will Also Feature Audio Tributes to Black Trailblazers from Today’s Biggest Artists and Listeners Across More Than 660 iHeartMedia Broadcast Stations

WHAT: iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in the United States, announced today that Donnell Rawlings will host the first-ever “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” special event and nationwide on-air celebration featuring remote performances from Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, Jhené Aiko and Kirk Franklin from local Black-owned business locations nationwide, plus special guests Andra Day, Killer Mike, Mary J. Blige, Tamika Mallory and more. “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” will spotlight the power of Black culture yesterday, today and tomorrow throughout Black History Month in February and the special will air on Saturday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages; iHeartMedia Hip-Hop, Gospel and R&B stations; and the iHeartRadio app. In addition, the month-long “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” celebration will highlight hundreds of Black artists, influencers and thought leaders through audio vignettes and tributes on more than 660 iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations in every format.

WHO: Hosted by comedian and actor Donnell Rawlings, “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” will feature previously announced performances from Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, Jhené Aiko, Kirk Franklin as well as appearances from special guests including singer-songwriter and actress Andra Day; wellness leader and veteran Hip-Hop media personality Devi Brown; rapper, songwriter and activist Killer Mike; singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist Mary J Blige; Black Effect Podcast Network’s Karlous Miller, Matt Barnes (NBA Champion) and Tamika Mallory (activist); as well as iHeartRadio on-air personalities including The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God, as well as Big Boy, Angie Martinez, DJ Clue, DJ Drama, Diamond Kuts, DJ Hed, Mr. Rogers and more.

WHEN: Saturday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT

WHERE: The special event will stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages and broadcast across iHeartMedia Hip-Hop, Gospel and R&B stations; and the iHeartRadio app. The event will also be available via Venues on Oculus Quest to watch the show in VR.

MORE: Produced by Emmy and Grammy award-winning producer Rikki Hughes of Magic Lemonade, “iHeartRadio Living Black!” special event on February 20 will pay homage to the culture that sets the trends, creates the moments and moves the world. The show will weave once-in-a-lifetime performances into a powerful audio and visual celebration of the Black experience featuring artists, actors, creators and Black leaders who have shaped culture.

In addition to the first-ever special event, “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” will feature conversations that educate, inspire and celebrate the Black experience through a mix of custom tributes from artists and listeners across the nation. Throughout February, today’s biggest artists from Country, Pop, Rock and more will honor the impact and influence that Black people and Black culture has had on their lives and community; iHeartMedia national and on-air personalities including The Breakfast Club – Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy and Big Boy will honor trailblazers, modern history makers and future change-makers of Black culture; and hundreds of iHeartMedia stations and shows will invite listeners to call in, post and share their experiences and inspirations each week.

Proud partners of this year's “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” include Facebook Groups, Rémy Martin and Walmart, with more to be announced.

New podcast hosted by actress-writer-producer-activist Erika Alexander and filmmaker Whitney Dow probes into the burning topic of the day: reparations for Black Americans

NEW YORK – February 18, 2021 – Color Farm Media, the diversified media company behind last year’s critically acclaimed documentary film, John Lewis: Good Trouble, has partnered with Charlamagne Tha God’s and iHeartMedia’s The Black Effect Podcast Network to release a ground-breaking, narrative podcast, “Reparations: The Big Payback.” The podcast will debut today with new episodes airing every Thursday. Listeners can hear the first episode now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

“Reparations: The Big Payback” is co-hosted by actress, writer, producer, activist and Color Farm co-founder Erika Alexander and filmmaker Whitney Dow. Erika, a Black woman, and Whitney, a white man, bring dual perspectives and a shared creative control to their partnership. The pair use their unique storytelling skills and experiences to explore the argument for and against the controversial topic of reparations for Black Americans. The podcast also investigates the underlying racist architecture of modern businesses, laws, policies and institutions that have their roots in slavery. Guests on the podcast will include Rev. William Barber, Tom Steyer, Robin Rue Simmons, Gwen Carr, Saru Jayaraman and more.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Charlamagne Tha God and iHeartMedia to launch this important podcast at a critical juncture in the history of America,” said Alexander. “We sit on the precipice of an opportunity to heal America’s divide through leaning in to a greater understanding of the restorative powers of reparations.”

“I believe the need for true racial reconciliation is one the most pressing issues confronting our country today, and that an honest conversation about reparations is a critical component in beginning to heal the wounds of slavery,” said Dow. “I am excited to be part of that conversation and grateful to The Black Effect Podcast Network for giving Erika and me the opportunity to bring that conversation to the world.”

"Erika Alexander is brilliant. Anytime I can assist her in bringing any one of her visions to life it's a no brainer for me,” said Charlamagne Tha God. “There are so many conversations revolving around reparations and the case for Black Americans to have reparations, and hopefully this project adds to those conversations and makes people realize why reparations isn't just a request, but a necessary step for this country to take in order for it to atone for the sin of slavery and finally get to a real place of healing.”

Listen to “Reparations: The Big Payback” on iHeartRadio and follow the podcast to be alerted when new episodes are available.

About Color Farm Media

Self-described as the “Motown of film, television and podcasts,” Color Farm Media was launched in 2017 by actress-writer-producer-activist Erika Alexander (Living Single, Get Out, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Run The World) and media/tech entrepreneur and activist Ben Arnon. Color Farm focuses on unique IP. They develop and produce premium-quality scripted and non-scripted content across all platforms. Color Farm’s mission is to bring greater equity and inclusion to media and to empower and elevate underrepresented, overlooked and undervalued voices.

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform and empower.

The sportscasters and longtime friends partner with the iHeartPodcast Network to share candid conversations about life, friendship, sports and everything in between

NEW YORK -- February 17, 2021 -- iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, announced today the launch of “Calm Down with Erin and Charissa,” a talk show style podcast hosted by sportscasters and longtime friends Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson. The show will join the expansive array of titles beginning today. Listeners can hear the first episode now on iHeartRadio.

On the podcast, Andrews and Thompson will discuss their lives, careers and thoughts on pretty much everything—and everyone—else. Driven by real, unfiltered conversations between the two girlfriends, “Calm Down with Erin and Charissa” pulls back the curtain on the lives of two successful women at the top of their field. On the first episode of “Calm Down,” Erin and Charissa will share why they finally decided to start their own podcast and welcome their first guest, Kevin Hart, to the podcast to discuss the pros and cons of sleeping in the nude, the ever-changing tides of life, how to keep a marriage exciting as well as the joys and challenges of parenting. Future episodes will cover topics including mask etiquette, getting older, what it's like to run a small business, how to manage skin breakouts, relationship advice and much more.

“I couldn’t be more excited to finally share this project with listeners,” said Andrews. “Most people know Charissa and I as sports analysts and broadcasters but this podcast really shows a different side of us. These are our real conversations about what we find to be most interesting and important today.”

“Erin and I have so many interests outside of sports, and—prior to this podcast—we hadn’t really had the opportunity to explore those topics in our professional lives,” said Thompson. “This podcast is an opportunity for us to dive into allof our interests in a genuinely candid and fun way.”

“We’re beyond thrilled to be working with Erin and Charissa on this show,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “They have this wonderfully sincere and hilarious rapport. This podcast is very much a conversation between two best friends and we’re looking forward to introducing it into the iHeartPodcast Network.”

“Calm Down with Erin and Charissa” will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 253 million downloads each month. Listeners can hear “Calm Down with Erin and Charissa” on iHeartRadio.com, through the iHeartRadio app, and on all the major podcast platforms. Fans can also follow the show on Instagram @calmdownpodcast.

About Erin Andrews

Erin Andrews is a sports broadcaster as part FOX Sports’ A Team. She can be seen weekly on “FOX NFL Sunday,”doing sideline coverage and features, a show that records a staggering 56.4 million unique viewers, as well as reporting for “NFL Thursday Night Football.” Andrews’ recently added “creator” to her long list of titles with the launch of her new women’s NFL apparel line, WEAR by Erin Andrews. The fashionable, comfortable and subtle line, designed for women to wear anywhere and everywhere, has quickly garnered notable attention- becoming one of the top NFL women’s only brand since it launched in October 2019. Due to overwhelming demand, WEAR expanded to the NBA and select NCAA schools in 2020. In addition to being a trailblazer in the sports world, Andrews also made a name for herself in entertainment as she co-hosted ABC’s long-running reality series, “Dancing with the Stars,” alongside Tom Bergeron for 11 seasons. Having a unique perspective on the competition, Erin was also a contestant in 2010, where she was paired with Maksim Chmerkovkiy and earned third place. Recent notable appearances include her coverage of Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LI, Super Bowl XLVIII, the 2019 NFC Championship Game, the 2015 & 2014 World Series, the 2015 & 2014 MLB All Star Games and hosting FOX’s “Prime Time College Football Pregame Show.” Prior to her move to FOX, Andrews spent eight years at ESPN where she hosted the first hour of ESPN’s “College GameDay” on ESPNU and was a features reporter for the full three-hour program, congruently serving as a sideline reporter for NCAA football and basketball games. Erin began her career with Fox Sports-Florida South as a freelance reporter and Tampa Bay Lightning reporter for the Sunshine Network. She joined ESPN in May 2004 as a reporter for the network’s National Hockey League coverage and quickly became a fan favorite, transitioning into college football and basketball.

About Charissa Thompson

Charissa Thompson is the host of FOX NFL KICKOFF, the Sunday morning NFL pregame show leading into FOX NFL SUNDAY. After graduating from the University of California-Santa Barbara, Thompson began her career as an assistant in the FOX Sports human resources department in 2006. After discovering an interest in TV production and moving into a production assistant role with FOX Sports in Denver, Thompson was given her first on-air opportunity as a fill-in host for the channel’s Saturday evening Colorado Rockies all-access show.

Thompson moved on from FOX Sports in 2010 and pulled double duty as a host for both Versus and Yahoo Sports. She anchored Versus’ NHL studio coverage and recorded web videos for the highly trafficked Yahoo platform, leading the site’s presence at high-profile events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl XLV and the BCS National Championship. Success in both arenas led to her joining ESPN in August 2011, where she was named one of the hosts for the network’s newly conceived afternoon show, “Numbers Never Lie.” In July 2012, she transitioned to the popular “SportsNation,” enjoying a successful run that lasted until she left the network to return to Los Angeles for the launch of FS1 in May 2013. She has been one of the faces of FSI since the network’s launch.

Acquisition establishes iHeartMedia as the only company to provide a complete set of Advertising Technologies and Measurement solutions for all forms of Audio Media

Acquisition Further Expands iHeartMedia’s Industry Leading Data and Measurement Capabilities, Programmatic Platform, Self Service Platform for Small Businesses and Podcast Capabilities

NEW YORK – February 17, 2021 – iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT), the No. 1 audio company in America and the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, today announced it has entered into an agreement with The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) to acquire Triton Digital®, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry, for $230 million, subject to certain adjustments.* With this acquisition, iHeartMedia will now be able to provide audio content to producers and advertisers with an industry-leading full ad service package for streaming and podcasting no matter their size, reach or distribution method.

The addition of Triton Digital’s vast array of infrastructure and measurement solutions will complement iHeartMedia’s current advertising technology services, data platforms and programmatic platforms while providing additional solutions for those in the digital radio industry, allowing iHeartMedia to be the first and only company in the audio market to provide four distribution methods for audio, including on-demand, broadcast and digital streaming radio and podcasting, and to service all audio assets programmatically.

The acquisition of Triton Digital is the latest of iHeartMedia’s investments in the audio technology space, and further enhances its position as the leader in audio. Most recently, in October 2020, iHeartMedia acquired Voxnest, the leading marketplace for podcasts and provider of podcast analytics, enterprise publishing tools, programmatic integration and targeted ad serving. Over the past two and a half years, the company has also acquired Jelli Inc, the pioneering technology that offers marketers a digital-compatible buying platform for broadcast radio that includes programmatic buying, data targeting and creative optimization; Radiojar, the centralized, cloud-based audio playout platform, through iHeartMedia, Inc.’s subsidiary RCS; and Unified, the leading social advertising data intelligence platform and solutions provider.

“Adding Triton Digital and its industry leading services to the iHeartMedia audio ecosystem establishes iHeartMedia as the only company with a total audio advertising technology and data solution,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “iHeart, with our strong leadership position in podcasting, digital radio and broadcast, already provides cutting edge audio management, programmatic and data solutions for the broadcast radio, digital audio and podcasting industries, and this acquisition further strengthens our position as the No. 1 audio company in America and provides unique -- and critical -- solutions for the industry and for advertisers.”

Operating in more than 50 countries, Triton Digital is a global Advertising Technology SaaS platform for audio streaming, podcasting and metrics that enables publishers to monetize their audiences by providing a highly respected digital audio measurement and advanced audio-focused infrastructure to maximize the yield of audio inventory. The company’s two lines of business focus on advertising infrastructure and measurement, including a content delivery system that distributes digital audio streams and podcasts to listeners while dynamically inserting ads and measurement business that tracks audience and creates ratings reports.

In addition to measuring audiences for customers, Triton Digital operates the world’s first programmatic marketplace for digital audio programmatic ad-buying and Yield-Op, a world-class Supply Side Platform (SSP) that specializes in Audio and enables programmatic audio advertising.

“We are thrilled to join the iHeartMedia family,” said Neal Schore, CEO of Triton Digital. “We remain deeply committed to providing the world’s broadcasters, podcasters, and online audio publishers with continuously innovated, best-in-class solutions and services for online audio management, advertising, and consumption data, and are well positioned to enhance iHeartMedia’s value proposition to audiences and advertisers.”

*The consummation of the proposed acquisition is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

About Triton Digital

Triton Digital® is the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry. Operating in more than 50 countries, Triton provides innovative technology that enables broadcasters, podcasters, and online music services to build their audience, maximize their revenue, and streamline their day-to-day operations. In addition, Triton powers the global online audio industry with Webcast Metrics®, the leading online audio measurement service and Podcast Metrics, one of the first IAB certified podcast measurement services in the industry. With unparalleled integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability, Triton remains committed to connecting audio, audience, and advertisers to continuously fuel the growth of the global online industry. Triton Digital is a wholly owned subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP). For more information, visit www.TritonDigital.com.

Weekly 50-Episode Season One Premieres Tuesday February 16

“Not Over It” Expands Group Nine Media’s Existing Portfolio-Wide Podcasting Program with iHeartMedia

SAN FRANCISCO – (February 16, 2021) – POPSUGAR, the no. 1 female lifestyle brand globally, today announced that it has partnered with iHeartRadio, the no. 1 podcast publisher globally, to premiere its inaugural collaborative podcast, “Not Over It” on Tuesday, February 16. “Not Over It” is for the pop culture obsessed. POPSUGAR hosts Becky Kirsch and Zareen Siddiqui break down the biggest moments in celebrity and entertainment news, providing the kind of in-depth analysis, banter, and theories that take over your group texts and happy-hour conversations. POPSUGAR’s new podcast is the fifth podcast from Group Nine Media’s portfolio-wide podcast partnership with iHeartMedia, which launched in 2019.

Listen to the podcast here.

“Not Over It” season one features 50, 30-40 minute episodes released weekly on Tuesdays that cover all of the pop culture moments that we’re still not over: from celebrity couples we never saw coming, the Internet’s latest Netflix boyfriend (the Duke from Bridgerton), why we can’t stop watching Grey’s Anatomy, and more. Guests will include other POPSUGAR editors and celebrity talent. 

“In 2021, we know audio-first platforms will continue to be an important way to stay connected to our massive loyal audience of modern women,” said Lisa Sugar, Founder and President of POPSUGAR. “It’s why we are so excited to launch our first iHeartRadio podcast and extend our editors’ pop culture expertise in a new, engaging format.”

POPSUGAR’s “Not Over It” is an iHeartRadio Original Podcast and is distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. “Not Over It” is produced in collaboration with Group Nine Studios. Listen now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are available.

ABOUT POPSUGAR

POPSUGAR is the #1 most engaged-with Women’s Lifestyle site in the U.S. according to Comscore [Comscore, February 2020]. The company reaches young women through its positive and purpose-driven content across multiple platforms, spanning entertainment, fashion, beauty, fitness, parenting, and more. POPSUGAR reaches 1 in 2 millennial women in the United States and leads all women’s lifestyle publishers in user engagement [Comscore & Platform Analytics, 2019]. In November 2019, POPSUGAR joined Group Nine Media, the #1 video publisher on mobile in the U.S., and home to The Dodo, NowThis, Thrillist and Seeker [Nielsen DCR, June 2020].

Musician Dessa hosts new podcast to explore the secrets of human impulses and behaviors

NEW YORK and ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 12, 2021— Today, the BBC World Service, iHeartMedia, and American Public Media jointly announce the new podcast Deeply Human. Hosted by writer and musician Dessa, the show strives to answer questions about the inner self: why we do the things we do and how the brain guides us and plays tricks on us. Deeply Human launches March 8 and will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network.

In short, Deeply Human will uncover the secrets of the human mind and heart. The first episode is all about finding love, and spans everything from Dating Apps to brain scans. It looks at how our hormones can determine what kind of person we want to date, the surprisingly easy-to-find parts of the brain governing attraction, and why picking a romantic partner isn’t all that different from picking a cereal at the grocery store. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, listen to a preview of Deeply Human here.

Deeply Human uses conversations with scientists, researchers and everyday people to explain why you do what you do. Other episodes will explore topics such as what déjà vu experiences can reveal and whether everyone feels pain the same way.

“It's funny how much of your own mind is stowed away in a backroom; so many of our behaviors are driven by forces we can't feel,” said Dessa. “On this show, I engage with brilliant people across all sorts of disciplines, traipsing around the dimly-lit subbasement of human nature –the parts not listed on the guided tour. People are endlessly fascinating : our accents, our ticks, the way we style our hair and spend our money—and the perspectives I've gained on this show help me understand them just a little bit better.”

Dessa has personal experience exploring the depths of the human mind. In 2018, she turned to neuroscience to help overcome her heartbreak over a past relationship. In a unique neurofeedback experiment, she was hooked up to electrodes and retrained her brain to strengthen her emotional resilience when seeing pictures of her ex. The experience was featured in her acclaimed memoir My Own Devices and inspired her 2018 album Chime.

“I’m very excited to be collaborating with APM, iHeart, and, of course, Dessa,” said Steve Titherington, senior commissioning editor at BBC World Service. “She and the team have created a complex, engaging and frankly startling programs which we can’t wait to share.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch this podcast with BBC World Service and American Public Media,” said Will Pearson, COO of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Partnering with two of the world’s best storytelling organizations to bring such a fascinating podcast to fruition has been an incredible experience.””

Deeply Human is a BBC World Service and American Public Media coproduction with iHeart Media. The program brings together the No. 1 podcast publisher globally with the BBC’s nearly century-long expertise in audio storytelling and APM’s success in making podcasts for the American market.

Listeners can find Deeply Human on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.

About BBC World Service

BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 41 other language services, on radio, TV and digital. BBC World Service reaches a weekly audience of 351m. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. BBC News attracts a weekly global audience of 438m people to its international services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.

About American Public Media

American Public Media® (APM) is the national programming and distribution division of American Public Media Group and reaches nearly 17 million listeners via approximately 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org. Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, average of Fall ’19 and Spring ’20.

With its new 3D audio arm, iHeartMedia invests in cutting-edge technology to pave the way for a more immersive podcast format

New York – February 9, 2020 – iHeartRadio, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced iHeart 3D Audio and its strategic expansion into binaural podcasting, an innovative new method of producing podcasts that places listeners into the middle of an audio soundscape, immersing them in the story like never before. Tapping into the potential of innovative 3D audio, iHeartMedia will debut a captivating new slate of podcasts, cementing itself in this category of experiential media and spearheading the exploration of what’s possible with cutting-edge audio technology.

Binaural, or 3D audio, creates a sense of movement, location and triggers other senses, enhancing listening experiences and providing a new way for people to hear high quality, surround sound, immersive content, and reproducing real-life experiences, much like virtual reality has done for video, right in their own homes. With in-person entertainment on hold, consumers are gravitating toward digital format entertainment and podcasting has taken center stage, with listenership expected to grow by 30 million listeners each year through 2023. Amid this new paradigm, iHeartMedia is dedicated to evolving its podcast network, providing a more multifaceted at-home listening experience for more fulfilling entertainment.

“Podcasting has undoubtedly stepped in as one of this year’s most relied upon forms of entertainment,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “We’ve seen a huge spike in listenership and iHeart wants to ensure we’re meeting this growing audience in new, innovative ways. This is virtual reality for the ears, and by expanding our 3D audio offerings, our goal is to place fans at the center of the stories they love – in an even more immersive, innovative format.”

Through iHeart 3D Audio, iHeartMedia will launch a new slate of podcasts that is underpinned by the unique recording technology. Building on the success of its previously-launched binaural audio series “13 Days of Halloween” from iHeartMedia and Blumhouse Television, which drove more than 2.8 MM listens, iHeartMedia, in collaboration with renowned writer, creator and producer Aaron Mahnke, will expand upon the series and release a seasonally focused “13 Days” franchise of podcasts correlating with various major holidays. The new iHeart 3D Audio slate will also include the upcoming podcast “The Mantawauk Caves,” a co-production with Blumhouse Television, as well as a series of bonus 3D episodes across the year for hit shows like “The Ron Burgundy Podcast.”

“I collaborated with iHeartMedia on ‘13 Days of Halloween,’ a podcast that brings listeners right into the essence of a purgatorial hotel using 3D audio,” said Mahnke. “It feels like you’re actually in the hotel when you listen. I remember when we were in production for the series and thinking I’d never seen anything like the recording process for a 3D listening experience — even the mic and equipment setup look very different. I knew we were creating something special with ‘13 Days of Halloween,’ and I’m thrilled that iHeartMedia is now doubling down on its 3D audio capabilities to define the next wave in podcast entertainment.”

"Since I started working with iHeartMedia, it's clear that this team is consistently at the forefront of innovation,” said Matthew Frederick, Lead Executive Producer and Podcast Host at iHeartMedia. “I’ve been in the podcasting space since its beginning when we introduced HowStuffWorks back in the early 2000s. iHeartMedia’s foray into 3D audio podcasting marks the latest shift toward a more immersive listening experience that pushes the boundaries for what's possible as we approach a new era for podcasting.”

iHeartMedia’s new iHeart 3D Audio slate of podcasts will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 253 million downloads each month. iHeartRadio Original Podcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime—and everything in between—making iHeartRadio the largest publisher of podcast content in the world.

NEW YORK – February 8, 2021 – Financial experts Rashad Bilal, a skilled financial advisor, and Troy Millings, a respected educator and innovator, announced today that their popular financial literacy podcast, Earn Your Leisure, will partner with renowned Radio Hall of Fame inductee, bestselling author, multimedia mogul, and cultural architect Charlamagne Tha God’s and iHeartMedia’s The Black Effect Podcast Network. The podcast, which has amassed more than five million downloads, applies an in-depth lens on the role money plays in sports, entertainment, and business. Earn Your Leisure broadcasts each Tuesday on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard. 

The podcast series, hosted Bilal and Millings, a dynamic duo who have been friends for over 25 years, provides listeners with behind-the-scenes financial knowledge across entertainment and sports industries, highlighting entrepreneurs’ backstories, breaking down business models, and examining the latest trends in finance. The podcast blends insights from a typical college business class with current popular culture, offering listeners a unique and exciting look into the world of business in a fresh new way. Listeners can binge classic episodes from the show’s archives which feature an array of notable guests, including business mogul Mark Cuban, hip-hop mogul and activist Killer Mike, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, DJ Envy, co-host of Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, retired professional basketball player Dwyane Wade, NBA Hall of Famer Dr. J, and more.

“We are proud to be a part of a network that shares our belief and vision of empowering the next generation of leaders in the world of business," said Troy and Rashad. "‘Earn Your Leisure’ is a college business class mixed with pop culture, offering listeners a unique perspective into the work of business and finance. “We pride ourselves on being a transparent business outlet, discussing complex topics broken down so that the average listener can comprehend. We are extremely excited to be joining The Black Effect Podcast Network, where the voices of our community can be authentically heard from a range of different leaders. Together, we will continue to expand the conversation of financial literacy while educating the world.”

Listen to Earn Your Leisure now and follow the podcast on iHeartRadio to be alerted when new episodes are available.

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned Radio Hall of Fame inductee, bestselling author, multimedia mogul, and cultural architect Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports, and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform, and empower.