Travis and Jason Kelce secure $100 million deal with Wondery for New Heights podcast

Kelce brothers score $100 million deal (X: FOS)

NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce have landed a major deal with Amazon's Wondery for their podcast New Heights, valued at over $100 million. Announced on Tuesday, this three-year agreement grants Wondery exclusive rights to global distribution, ad sales, and merchandise licensing for the podcast, covering both audio and video episodes as well as the show’s entire back catalogue.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Wondery CEO Jen Sargent expressed excitement about the deal, “We've been watching the growth of the podcast, really since it was launched, and I have been building a relationship with Travis and Jason and getting to know them for a while now.”

She added, “Sports is a really exciting category for podcast listeners. It's a strategic priority of Wondery's and Amazon's. So there were a lot of reasons to think about joining forces here on the New Heights podcast.”

Excited for @newheightshow to join the #Wondery Family! New Episodes drop on Wednesday starting tomorrow! https://t.co/cm9H7B0OaS pic.twitter.com/maeh9KHw7e— Wondery (@WonderyMedia) August 27, 2024

The Kelce brothers, both Super Bowl champions with a combined 24 years of NFL experience, voiced their enthusiasm in a joint statement: "We couldn't be more excited to team up with Wondery for the next phase of New Heights. We love this show, and the fanbase that has grown with us over the last two seasons. Wondery understands the shared vision and will offer a wealth of experience and resources to take us to New Heights! We are going to create some groundbreaking moments together through this partnership. We are thrilled to start Season 3 – see you soon.”

New Heights, launched in 2022, has quickly become popular, with the Kelce brothers discussing life on and off the football field, sharing professional sports insights, personal anecdotes, and celebrity guest interviews. The podcast has reached the top of charts on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The show's popularity surged in 2023, partly due to Travis Kelce's high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. This crossover with pop culture has broadened the podcast’s audience, making it a “cultural phenomenon,” according to Sargent.

The agreement with Wondery includes global distribution rights, exclusive ad sales, rights to past episodes, and the ability to launch international podcast adaptations and merchandise licensing. The deal also provides ad-free listening options for Wondery+ subscribers and livestream capabilities.

This high-value podcast agreement follows a trend in the industry, similar to Wondery's $80 million deal with comedian Dax Shepard and other notable deals like Joe Rogan’s $250 million agreement with Spotify and Alex Cooper’s contract with SiriusXM worth up to $125 million. The Kelce brothers' deal highlights the growing importance of celebrity-driven content that blends sports, entertainment, and pop culture.

Beyond New Heights, the Kelce brothers are expanding their media presence. Travis is set to make his acting debut in Ryan Murphy's horror series Grotesquerie on FX and will host Amazon Prime Video’s new game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?. He also has a cameo in Adam Sandler’s upcoming film Happy Gilmore 2. Meanwhile, Jason Kelce, recently retired from the NFL, has joined ESPN's Monday Night Countdown pregame show as a commentator.

The Wondery partnership is set to begin on Wednesday, coinciding with the start of the new NFL season. Fans can continue enjoying the podcast across various platforms, including Wondery’s distribution channels and YouTube, with Wave Sports + Entertainment maintaining production services to ensure the show’s quality and format remain consistent.