Blue Wire Powers Up with Athlete-Led Podcasts and $7 Million Investment

Blue Wire has recently expanded its roster by adding a class of athlete-led podcasts featuring Cam Newton, J.R. Smith, and Lou Williams. The network has secured commercial partnerships with Newton’s “Funky Friday” and “4th & 1,” Smith and Stephen Malbon’s “Par 3 Podcast,” Williams and Spank Horton’s “The Underground Lounge,” and Learfield’s “Varsity Podcast Network.” Other podcasts included in the network’s lineup are Pat Mayo’s “Mayo Media Network” and “The Kevin Sheehan Show,” totaling 250 podcasts.

Blue Wire founder and CEO Kevin Jones highlighted the importance of YouTube as an additional driver for podcasts, citing its ability to increase discoverability and consumer traffic. Advertisers are showing interest in combined sponsorship packages, allowing for larger sponsorship opportunities due to increased YouTube views. In 2023, Blue Wire’s reach across audio and video platforms resulted in 176 million combined downloads and views for full-length episodes.

These moves align with Blue Wire’s vision for growth in video content and expanding the network’s activation capabilities for brand partners in verticals such as NFL, NBA, NCAA, and golf. The network also aims to work with athletes looking to grow a media business and monetize their content. Cam Newton expressed his enthusiasm for the podcast medium, emphasizing its power for storytelling and engaging conversations. Additionally, Newton’s YouTube channel, with over 1.3 million subscribers, will be integrated into Blue Wire’s offerings.

Blue Wire received a significant boost in February with a seven-figure investment from Decathlon Capital Partners. Although details of the revenue-based investment package were not disclosed, the investment signals confidence in Blue Wire’s potential for continued growth and success in the digital media landscape.