Acast set to acquire podcast database Podchaser

Acast has announced an agreement to acquire podcast database, Podchaser. 

The deal could be worth close to $40 million and will bring together two major players of the podcast world, allowing for big developments in the future. 

Podchaser is like the IMDb of podcasting that allows users to research podcasts, leave and find reviews and listen to podcasts all on the same service. 

Acast and Podchaser will work together to combine data and contribute to the industry, but Podchaser will continue to operate as a separate brand and independent business. 

“As true champions of open podcasting, Acast and Podchaser combined will accelerate the innovation and democratization of the podcasting ecosystem for podcasters, listeners and advertisers everywhere,” said Ross Adams, Acast’s CEO.

“Together we will unlock the vast opportunity that we know exists for open podcasting to not just have parity with the data held by closed, paywalled platforms, but to leap forward and surpass them.”

Founded in Oklahoma in 2016, Podchaser covers more than 4.5 million podcasts and more than 1.7 billion data points, including hundreds of thousands of ratings and reviews.

Podchaser is structured around discoverability, which solves one of podcasting’s biggest problems which is, finding something new to listen to. 

Through listener and podcaster contributions, the massive Podchaser database helps users discover new podcasts and find more information about familiar ones. 

Once Podchaser and Acast are integrated, the pair will push forward and elevate discoverability for all in the industry and provide an even better resource for listeners, advertisers and partners. 

“Podchaser and Acast have a shared ethos around supercharging the open podcast ecosystem and creating the best tools possible for listeners, podcasters, and advertisers,” said Bradley Davis, CEO at Podchaser.

“It’s this conviction, coupled with Acast’s relentless execution, that makes it the perfect home for Podchaser’s continued mission.”