Blue Wire has recently expanded its roster with the addition of a class of athlete-led podcasts, including Cam Newton, J.R. Smith, and Lou Williams. The network has secured commercial partnerships with Newton’s “Funky Friday” and “4th & 1,” Smith and Stephen Malbon’s “Par 3 Podcast,” Williams and Spank Horton’s “The Underground Lounge,” and Learfield’s “Varsity Podcast Network.” The network now includes 250 podcasts in its lineup, with recent acquisitions like Eagles CB Darius Slay’s “Big Play Slay” podcast.
These moves align with Blue Wire’s vision for growth in video content and expanding its activation capabilities for brand partners in verticals such as NFL, NBA, NCAA, and golf. The network also aims to work with athletes looking to grow a media business and monetize their content. Cam Newton expressed his enthusiasm for the podcast medium, emphasizing its power for storytelling and engaging conversations. Additionally, Newton’s YouTube channel, with over 1.3 million subscribers, will be integrated into Blue Wire’s offerings.
Blue Wire founder and CEO Kevin Jones highlighted the importance of YouTube as an additional driver for podcasts, citing its ability to increase discoverability and consumer traffic. Advertisers are showing interest in combined sponsorship packages, allowing for larger sponsorship opportunities due to increased YouTube views. In 2023, Blue Wire’s reach across audio and video platforms resulted in 176 million combined downloads and views for full-length episodes.
The recent seven-figure investment from Decathlon Capital Partners signals confidence in Blue Wire’s potential for continued growth and success in the digital media landscape.