GEDI partners with iHeartMedia, the number one podcast publisher in the world, to translate and distribute hit podcasts for Italian audiences. 

A larger selection of podcasts created by La Repubblica and La Stampa will be made available, in addition to new original entertainment series featuring the personalities most loved by Italian listeners, produced under the artistic direction of Linus.

November 29, 2021 --- GEDI is progressing rapidly in the digital audio market,  now aiming for the podcasting segment. There are over 120 million podcast listeners every month in the USA alone, with more than one billion downloads. Interest is also growing in Italy for this rapidly expanding market, which already reaches 10 million users each month, skewing toward younger demographics. 

To take advantage of these new opportunities, GEDI announces the launch of  One Podcast, the GEDI digital audio initiative dedicated to creating original entertainment series and news, offering daily programming live and via streaming, which can be accessed at any time of the day from all devices.  

Maurizio Scanavino, GEDI Chief Executive Officer, said: “GEDI’s digital development is forging ahead and embracing new market segments in response to an international phenomenon around audio that presents great potential: In addition to news and videos, we want to create an important offering of digital audio products in Italy. The production of news and in-depth podcasts by La Repubblica and La Stampa will be increased, and will combine with an extensive range of original audio entertainment series, created under the leadership of Linus.” 

In reaffirming its commitment to the sector, GEDI has signed an agreement for Italy with iHeartMedia, the number one podcast publisher in the world, home to more than 750 iHeartRadio Original Podcasts which see more than 320 million downloads each month globally. The agreement includes the translation and distribution of thousands of popular titles across multiple genres to Italian listeners, which will also be available in their original languages. 

“In response to the ever-growing global demand for audio entertainment, iHeart is proud to partner with GEDI, Italy’s premiere media company,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group.  “One Podcast is poised to be the leading digital content and programming offering in Italy, and as the leader in the audio space iHeart can offer GEDI’s audience access to wildly successful podcasts, all featuring stories that transcend borders.”

“This agreement brings together the world audio leader iHeart, with our journalists’ commitment to news – to provide a unique and widely distributed offering, accessible to all,” continued Scanavino. “To reach a broader audience, our podcasts will be distributed via all GEDI publications and digital brands, and everywhere podcasts are heard including the new dedicated app, One Podcast.”

The One Podcast app will distribute all of GEDI’s audio content, including live broadcasts from Radio Deejay, Radio Capital and m2o, in addition to 25 themed music channels with regularly updated playlists, from the latest hits to Italian music, to the hits of the past, to ’90s dance music, from pop to rock, from classics to jazz. The new One Podcast App will be available on Apple Store/Google Play Store in January 2022.

An end-to-end dedicated production team will be created to develop the initiative: “We are setting up a dedicated podcast Production Studio, which will support communications for the main brands, each of which will launch its own branded podcasts,” added Scanavino.

GEDI 

GEDI Gruppo Editoriale is the first media company in Italy, leader in both the hard-copy and digital formats, with publications including La Repubblica, La Stampa, ten local newspapers, l’Espresso and other periodicals. GEDI is also one of the primary national radio hubs, with the top-level brand Radio Deejay, as well as Radio Capital and m2o. GEDI operates further in the multi-platform advertising segment, through the concessionaire A. Manzoni & C. Spa.