Travis and Jason Kelce have signed a $100 million deal with Amazon to produce their hit podcast New Heights.
Amazon-owned Wondery has exclusive rights to sell and distribute advertising to the podcast, which surged in popularity last season after news broke that Kansas City Chiefs star Travis was dating Taylor Swift.
Variety reported a statement From the brothers who said: ‘We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Wondery for the next phase of New Heights.
“We love this show and the fan base that has grown with us over the past two seasons. Wondery understands the shared vision and will offer a wealth of expertise and resources to take us to ‘new heights.'”
“We are going to create some groundbreaking moments together through this partnership. We are thrilled to kick off Season 3.”
Travis and Jason Kelce have signed a $100 million deal with Amazon
Amazon-owned Wondery has exclusive advertising and distribution rights to its podcast.
New Heights will continue to be widely available on all podcast streaming services, including Wondery and YouTube platforms. Wondery+ subscribers will have access to exclusive ad-free listening.
The deal also includes livestreaming and the rights to develop, manufacture, license and distribute all merchandise based on ‘New Heights.’
“‘New Heights’ is, on the surface, a sports podcast, and sports is a very popular category,” said Jen Sargent, CEO of Wondery. “But it’s become a cultural phenomenon — it’s part of that cultural zeitgeist.”
Sargent added that the company had been following Kelces’ podcast since its launch at the start of the 2022-23 NFL season.
The deal follows another big-budget move by Wondery after the company recently signed comedian and podcaster Dax Shepard to an $80 million deal.
Wondery’s portfolio also features a number of sports podcasts, including ‘Six Trophies,’ ‘Men in Blazers,’ and ‘The Offensive Line With Annie Agar.’
The podcast has been a hit since it first hit platforms during the 2022 season, culminating in the two brothers facing off in the Super Bowl as Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs defeated Jason and the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, he reached new heights last season after playing a pivotal role in Travis’ relationship with Taylor Swift.
The two brothers have seen the popularity of their show rise over the past year.
Travis and Taylor Swift’s relationship has been a key factor in the podcast’s growth
Since its founding, the podcast has taken many forms: from its usual conference format, with each brother recording from different locations, to face-to-face episodes (including in a Philadelphia-themed pub in London) and a live show at the University of Cincinnati.
This year, the show won the iHeartRadio Podcast of the Year award and was named Sports Illustrated Sports Podcast of the Year. It was also nominated for several awards at the Webby Awards, including People’s Voice for Podcasts, Best Co-Hosts and Best Video Series.
Meanwhile, both Kelce brothers have found success in other areas beyond the podcast and the football field.
Travis signed on to host the TV show ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?’, a spin-off of ‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?’
The show, filmed in Los Angeles during the football offseason, will stream on Amazon Prime and the Oct. 16 start date coincides with Kelce’s NFL bye week with the Chiefs.
Travis also landed a role in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series, the horror drama ‘Grotesquerie’ and is believed to be in the running for roles in the action comedy ‘Loose Cannons’ and Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ sequel.
Jason, who retired from the NFL in March after 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, is set to make his broadcast debut this season as a color commentator on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown.
The former center has a history of associations with the Amazon brand, having previously appeared as an analyst on Amazon Prime’s Thursday night broadcast.
Jason tearfully announced his retirement from the NFL in March after 13 years.
Kelce previously appeared as an analyst on Amazon Prime’s Thursday night broadcast.
Jason and his wife Kylie also filmed a documentary, ‘Kelce,’ on the streaming service in 2023.
He and his wife Kylie also filmed a documentary, ‘Kelce,’ on the streaming service in 2023.
Jason walked away from football with career earnings of around $81 million in his 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, Travis has earned an estimated $77 million to date with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won three Super Bowls, and recently signed a new two-year extension through the 2027 season with an average annual salary of $17.1 million that will make him the highest-paid tight end in football.
They started the podcast in September 2022 and release episodes every Wednesday, with an additional edition every Friday during the NFL season previewing the weekend’s games.
In addition to talking about the NFL, the brothers discuss their personal lives (including Travis’ relationship with Swift) and growing up in Cleveland.
The 34-year-old tight end has previously said he thinks about retirement more than he’s willing to admit, but he’ll play at least one more season with his Chiefs team in pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat.
The Chiefs will kick off their historic title quest on Sept. 5 in an AFC Championship rematch against the Baltimore Ravens. There has been much speculation that Travis’ girlfriend, Swift, might be in attendance after the pop star wrapped up the European leg of his blockbuster Eras tour.
It will also be great content for the upcoming season on New Heights. In an interview during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas, Jason talked about how the show helped him maintain his bond with Travis.
“I haven’t been that connected with Travis in the last two years, since college,” he said.
Travis has confirmed October 16th as the release date for ‘Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?’
She appeared in a trailer for Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series, Grotesquerie.
‘And that’s been one of the best things, probably the best thing, about the podcast. It forces us, because we’re brothers, before this we’d spend months alone without talking. We’d text each other, we’d send a funny video, but to actually sit down and talk to him, it would take a lot of time.
“It’s been great, it’s the second year and I think we’ve improved a lot. First of all, I think we have a tremendous team; our involvement is minimal, we just talk.
By doing this, you know that once a week we’re going to sit down and talk. And we’re going to have very meaningful conversations, fun conversations, and we’re really going to know where each of us is in our lives, and that’s the most fun part.
“It’s gotten to the next level because of a lot of different factors, including my brother’s love life. But I think it’s fun to see people enjoying it and it’s fun to see where it’s at.”
