Acast expands UK presence with exclusive Persephonica partnership. Two major players in the UK podcast industry have joined forces to strengthen their market position. Acast, the global authority on podcasting infrastructure, has signed an exclusive, multi-year partnership with Persephonica, one of the UK's leading podcast production companies. The deal marks a significant consolidation in the British podcast landscape and underscores Acast's continued investment in premium content creators. What the partnership covers. Under the new agreement, Acast will provide comprehensive advertising sales, hosting, and distribution services across Persephonica's entire portfolio. This includes several high-profile shows that have already established themselves in the UK market: * Bad Chat with Greg James and Alice Levine * Miss Me? with Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens * Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball * Political Currency with Ed Balls and George Osborne Importantly, the partnership extends beyond traditional audio. Acast will also support Persephonica's video expansion strategy, helping the company build audiences across YouTube, social media platforms, and emerging podcast video services - a growing priority for podcast companies seeking to diversify revenue streams and reach. Infrastructure and creative independence. The partnership leverages Acast Studios London's state-of-the-art facilities. Persephonica will record Bad Chat and Political Currency at the London studio, while maintaining its primary headquarters in Sheffield. This arrangement reflects a modern approach to podcast production, where companies can maintain geographic independence while accessing premium production infrastructure when needed. A key feature of the deal is Persephonica's retention of creative independence. In an industry where content quality often depends on creative autonomy, Dino Sofos, Persephonica's Founder and CEO, emphasized that creative control remains central to the company's identity. "We're working with some of the most talented creators in the business and building shows with passionate communities around them," Sofos stated. "Our partnership with Acast gives us the commercial and technical support to keep investing in those shows and expand our network, while retaining the creative independence that has been central to our success from day one." As shown in the image below, Acast's London studio represents the kind of modern production facility that podcasters increasingly expect - combining professional audio and video capabilities with collaborative workspace design. What this means for advertisers and audiences. Josh Woodhouse, Acast's Managing Director for UK & Ireland, framed the partnership around what he calls "narrative influence." According to Woodhouse, "Persephonica don't just make great shows - they build narrative influence. That's the kind of content that shapes culture, earns audience trust, and gives advertisers something no algorithm can manufacture. At Acast, we exist to amplify that influence and allow advertisers to tap into it at scale." This positioning is telling. Rather than competing on reach alone, the partnership emphasizes premium content and engaged audiences - precisely what brands increasingly seek in podcast advertising. For Persephonica's shows, which already feature established personalities and strong listener loyalty, the deal provides access to Acast's network of 4,000+ advertisers globally, potentially unlocking new revenue opportunities. The broader industry trend. This partnership reflects ongoing consolidation in the UK podcast sector, where independent producers are increasingly partnering with larger infrastructure and distribution platforms. For podcasters and production companies evaluating their own positioning, the Acast-Persephonica deal offers important lessons: professional infrastructure, distribution reach, and commercial support matter - but so does maintaining the creative vision that audiences tune in for. For podcast professionals working with production companies, talent management teams, or considering their own growth strategies, this kind of partnership model - combining outsourced commercial and technical services with in-house creative control - represents a practical approach to scaling without compromising editorial independence.

Acast partners with Washington Post on exclusive audio and video shows. Acast, a global podcast platform and production company, announced July 23, 2026, an exclusive partnership with The Washington Post to produce and distribute original audio and video programming hosted by prominent Post journalists, marking the latest in a series of high-profile publishing deals for the Stockholm-based company. The partnership will feature shows hosted by Carolyn Hax, the Post's most-read advice columnist; Shane O'Neill, a Style writer and author of the "Seriously?" pop culture newsletter; and Michelle Singletary, an award-winning personal finance columnist. Additional programming will include content from Post Opinion journalists Kate Andrews, Carine Hajjar, James Hohmann, and Adam O'Neal. Acast Productions will serve as the exclusive global partner for sales, distribution, and monetization of all shows, with programming launching later in 2026. The deal represents Acast's continued expansion into partnerships with established media publishers seeking to monetize and distribute editorial content through podcasting and audio platforms. The company has previously secured exclusive arrangements with The Athletic, a New York Times subsidiary; The Economist; Slate; TED; and Warner Bros. Discovery. These partnerships position Acast as a key infrastructure provider for legacy publishers entering the podcast market with established editorial brands and audience trust. "Our partnership with The Washington Post is so exciting because this is exactly the type of high-quality publisher content Acast is designed to support and monetize," said Greg Glenday, CEO of Acast. "The trust built over the years by columnists like Carolyn Hax, Michelle Singletary, and Shane O'Neill is what we mean when we say narrative influence. Podcasting is the natural medium for those relationships to grow, giving these distinct voices a new way to reach audiences and advertisers around the world." James Murray, head of business development at The Washington Post, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Acast to strategically expand The Washington Post's audio and video presence. Acast's robust production and commercial capabilities will help scale our exceptional journalism with new audiences as part of our commitment to extending our journalism across formats and platforms." For podcast producers and audio professionals, the partnership underscores the growing demand for established editorial voices in the audio space and the strategic importance of distribution and monetization infrastructure. Independent creators and smaller production companies face increasing competition from partnerships pairing legacy publishers with well-capitalized platforms. The deal signals that columnists and opinion journalists - traditionally print-focused talent - now represent valuable IP for audio expansion, potentially reshaping how traditional media organizations value and develop their talent across platforms. The partnership arrives as podcast advertising continues to mature as a revenue stream for major publishers. Traditional media companies including The New York Times, NPR, and others have invested significantly in podcast production and distribution over the past three years. Acast's model of handling production, distribution, and advertising sales on behalf of publishers addresses a critical gap for legacy media organizations seeking to avoid building in-house podcast infrastructure while maintaining editorial control and brand integrity. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Acast, which went public on the Nasdaq in 2021 under ticker ACST, has reported steady growth in its creator and publisher partnerships. The company reported 67 million monthly listeners across its network in recent quarters and has positioned itself as a neutral platform for independent creators and institutional media partners alike, competing directly with Spotify Studios, Amazon Music's podcast division, and iHeartMedia's production capabilities. The Washington Post partnership demonstrates how established publishers are leveraging podcast platforms to extend the reach of their most recognizable talent. As audiences increasingly consume news and opinion through audio formats, major media organizations are converting print-based editorial franchises into multimedia revenue streams. For Acast, each new publisher partnership strengthens its position as an essential intermediary between legacy media and the growing podcast advertising market, though the strategy also depends on demonstrating measurable audience growth and advertising performance for partner content.

Acast and The Washington Post announce exclusive partnership. July 23, 2026 Acast, the global authority on podcasting, today announced a new partnership with The Washington Post to produce original shows across audio and video. The shows, in development and production with Acast Productions, will be hosted by Washington Post journalists Carolyn Hax, Shane O'Neill, and Michelle Singletary, with Acast as the exclusive global partner for sales, distribution, and monetization. The partnership extends across The Washington Post journalism portfolio, with additional distribution of programming from notable Post Opinions journalists including Kate Andrews, Carine Hajjar, James Hohmann, Adam O'Neal and more. Featuring trusted voices from The Washington Post, this partnership is designed to provide audiences with new ways to experience premier content and exceptional journalism. For Acast, it adds to a growing track record of exclusive partnerships with leading publishers - including The Athletic, a New York Times company; The Economist; Slate; TED; and Warner Bros. Discovery - bringing credible editorial voices to new audiences and advertisers. The programming, launching later this year, will showcase The Washington Post's most-read author and syndicated advice columnist Carolyn Hax; Shane O'Neill, Style writer and author of the "Seriously?" pop culture newsletter; and award-winning, syndicated personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary. "Our partnership with The Washington Post is so exciting because this is exactly the type of high-quality publisher content Acast is designed to support and monetize," said Greg Glenday, CEO of Acast. "The trust built over the years by columnists like Carolyn Hax, Michelle Singletary, and Shane O'Neill is what we mean when we say narrative influence. Podcasting is the natural medium for those relationships to grow, giving these distinct voices a new way to reach audiences and advertisers around the world." "We are thrilled to partner with Acast to strategically expand The Washington Post's audio and video presence," said James Murray, head of business development at The Washington Post. "Acast's robust production and commercial capabilities will help scale our exceptional journalism with new audiences as part of our commitment to extending our journalism across formats and platforms."