Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes each have their share of television hits and genuine classics to their names, but more recently they have been having even more success in the podcast realm. The three co-hosts of the "SmartLess" audio chat show has jumped ship from Amazon to SiriusXM in a deal worth more than $100 million.
The deal, which is spread out over the next three years, will include rights for advertising sales and distribution, plus additional content that will be exclusive to the SiriusXM satellite radio platform. SiriusXM subscribers will reportedly get early access to new episodes, as well as the bulk of the show's archive of episodes, once the deal goes into effect sometime later this year.
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Scott Greenstein, president and chief content officer of SiriusXM, is predictably enthusiastic about the deal in a press statement:
"This groundbreaking new collaboration showcases our power to drive growth for an established podcast while bringing unique value back to our subscribers through exclusive content and events. I'm looking forward to new 'SmartLess' listeners discovering this one-of-a-kind trio's inimitable style on SiriusXM, and for current fans to see what magic happens when we team up together."
"SmartLess" started in 2020 and quickly built a huge audience, eventually signing on with Amazon the following year for a deal that was reportedly worth somewhere between $60 million and $80 million. With that three-year contract set to lapse, SiriusXM was able to swoop in and sign the show at an even higher figure.
Assuming they made $80 million from Amazon and will make $100 million from Sirius, the three co-hosts will have each grossed around $60 million from the two deals, after subtracting production costs.
The show is joining many other podcasts in similar arrangements with SiriusXM, including programs like "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" and "Pod Save America." The "SmartLess" show has also spawned its own media franchise which includes such spin-off podcasts as "Just Jack & Will," "Bad Dates" and "Owned," all of which will presumably find a home on SiriusXM.
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