Amazon has confirmed that it has acquired podcast startup company Wondery, a firm that Apple had reportedly been interested in acquiring prior to Amazon’s successful takeover.
Speaking in a press release, the company said that it was “pleased to announce that Wondery has signed an agreement to join Amazon Music. Wondery is an innovative podcast publisher with a track record of creating and producing top-rated podcasts that entertain and educate listeners, including “Dirty John,” “Dr. Death,” “Business Wars,” and “The Shrink Next Door”.”
“Wondery is already delighting listeners with its collection of immersive podcasts, and the company is evolving this entertainment medium into a truly new and exciting experience. When the deal closes, nothing will change for listeners, and they’ll continue to be able to access Wondery podcasts through a variety of providers.
“With Amazon Music, Wondery will be able to provide even more high-quality, innovative content and continue their mission of bringing a world of entertainment and knowledge to their audiences, wherever they listen.”
Apple and other technology giants were reportedly bidding to take over Wondery, too, as the competition for podcasting heats up. With Spotify launching several exclusive podcasts and acquiring some of the world’s biggest podcasting names and titles, and Amazon now entering the ring with new acquisitions, Apple must work hard if it wants to stay in the game.
Wondery had previously worked with Apple, turning some of its podcasts into Apple TV+ shows, so a partnership between the two companies would have made sense.
It has been reported that the company was looking for up to $400 million, and it might be that Apple was unwilling to pay this – or that Amazon was able to offer other incentives to get the deal done.
We’ve previously reported that Apple is on the market for original podcasts, with the firm looking for titles to turn into Apple TV+ content, and to make Apple Podcasts more compelling.
The company could even decide to launch Apple Podcasts+ in the coming years, offering podcast lovers an opportunity to enjoy premium podcasts without adverts.
Are you pleased to see Amazon acquire Wondery? Do you think Apple has missed out? Let us know and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, every week.