SiriusXM: Streaming, acquisitions, and the uncertainty of podcasting

In its recent Q2 earnings call, Sirius XM discussed streaming, its multiple acquisitions, and podcasting in some detail. Remarks about podcasting are quite interesting, somewhat shading the industry as young and largely immature, while evangelizing the production and marketing power of SiriusXM. Click through for many quotes. Continue Reading

Scripps sells Stitcher to SiriusXM: Confirmed by both companies

What was previously a Rumor Fact(ory) item is today finalized and confirmed: SiriusXM is buying Stitcher from Scripps. We received press releases from both SiriusXM (via the PR office of subsidiary Pandora) and E.W.Scripps. From Scripps, the news is about that company’s profitable investment in Stitcher over five years. for sirius, the vision gets big, fast, and the company isn’t shy about claiming preeminence in podcasting. Continue Reading

Jeff Umbro: Digging into the New SiriusXM

by Jeff Umbro

RAIN News welcomes Jeff Umbro in his first weekly appearance as guest columnist. In this edition, he offers in-depth analysis of siriusXM’s pending acquisition of Stitcher, and covers other podcasting news as well. Jeff is CEO of the Podglomerate podcast network. Click through for more details about Jeff, and of course to read the column. Continue Reading

SiriusXM reportedly will buy Stitcher from Scripps

After 48 hours of rumors, today we get … well, sort-of confirmation that SiriusXM will acquire Stitcher from E.W.Scripps. The confirmation part is from the Wall Street Journal. The sort-of part is the article’s first sentence: “Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is near a deal to buy E.W. Scripps Co.’s Stitcher.” There is no visible confirmation from Sirius, Stitcher, or Scripps. But, as of this morning, industry-wide assumption is that the deal is all but done … in a “poised to buy” sort of way. This acquisition adds a chapter in the corporate life of each company involved. Continue Reading

Stitcher releases 10-year podcast report; we talk with Erik Diehn in a popup podcast

Content and distribution powerhouse Stitcher has released a report of observations and measurements over 10 years of delivering podcasts to listeners. It is a unique glimpse into listener behavior from a pioneering podcast company. We also spoke with CEO Erik Diehn for a popup podcast. Click through to read and listen. Continue Reading

Stitcher earned $17-million in Q1, up 13% over 2019

Stitcher, a top podcast network, enjoyed first-quarter revenue of $17.1-million, a 13% jump year-over-year from Q1 2019 ($15.1-million). (As a timely but random point of comparison, PodcastOne just sold to LiveXLive last week for $18-million.) Projecting across the year, it might be feasible to consider Stitcher a $68-million topline business.  Continue Reading