Jason and Travis Kelce have announced a major new deal with Amazon’s Wondery, solidifying their podcast “New Heights” as a central piece of the media network’s sports programming. The deal, valued at over $100 million, is set to span three years, according to sources familiar with the agreement.
Beginning August 28, just in time for the kickoff of the new NFL season, Wondery will take over global distribution rights for “New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce.” This includes all audio and video episodes of the podcast, along with its entire back catalog. Wondery will also have the rights to create international audio adaptations of the podcast and will exclusively handle the monetization and distribution of the content.
The podcast will remain widely accessible across various platforms, including Wondery’s distribution channels and YouTube. Subscribers to Wondery+ will benefit from ad-free listening and access to livestreams. Additionally, Wondery will handle the development, manufacturing, licensing, and distribution of all merchandise related to the podcast.
Wave Sports + Entertainment will continue to manage the production of “New Heights.” In a joint statement, the Kelce brothers expressed their excitement about the new partnership: “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, 92%ers!”
The deal marks another significant agreement for Wondery, following a similar arrangement with comedian and podcaster Dax Shepard valued at $80 million announced last month. High-profile podcasters have increasingly secured substantial deals, such as Joe Rogan’s $250 million multiyear contract with Spotify and Alex Cooper’s deal worth up to $125 million with SiriusXM.
Jen Sargent, CEO of Wondery, remarked on the impact of the Kelce brothers’ podcast: “We’ve been following the Kelce brothers’ podcast since it launched at the start of the NFL’s 2022-23 season. ‘New Heights’ on the surface is a sports podcast, and sports is such a well-listened-to category. But it’s become a cultural phenomenon — they’re in that cultural zeitgeist.”
On their podcast, the Kelce brothers, who both have Super Bowl championships and a combined 24 years in the NFL, delve into their experiences on the field and offer personal anecdotes from their everyday lives. The show features a mix of light-hearted debates, including topics from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to UFOs, and regularly includes celebrity guest interviews. The podcast has consistently ranked among the top shows on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and was named Podcast of the Year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards.
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Aaron Eanes, co-founder of A&A Management, which manages Travis Kelce, commented on the podcast’s growth: “The tremendous growth of ‘New Heights’ over the past few years is a testament to the talent and dedication that Travis and Jason — as well as the fantastic team behind the scenes — continue to pour into every episode. We are excited to partner with Wondery for this new chapter of the podcast and look forward to reaching new heights.”
Beyond their podcast, the Kelce brothers have other media ventures. Travis Kelce, who has garnered additional fame for his relationship with Taylor Swift, is set to host a 20-episode season of “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” for Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, Jason Kelce, who recently retired from the NFL, has joined ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” pregame show as a commentator.
Wondery’s diverse audio portfolio includes genres such as true crime, comedy, business, history, and sports. The company’s sports-related shows include “Six Trophies,” “Men in Blazers,” and “The Offensive Line With Annie Agar.”
