New podcast partnerships and expanded Red Room program announced at Nova 2026 Infronts

NOVA Entertainment has launched a new suite of tools, capabilities and partnership opportunities at its 2026 Infronts event, held yesterday.

Taking a more low-key approach than ARN’s Upfronts presentation last year, Nova showcased a new measurement framework – Path to 11% – as well as a conversational listening option called the Audio Planning & Optimisation Platform (APOP).

There was also an introduction to creative intelligence division Alchemy, expanded program for Nova’s Red Room and additional strategic and creative partnerships.

The Infronts were hosted by Joel Creasey (pictured above) who has his own new show launching on Nova in April, with Nova, Smooth, Nova Podcast Network and leadership team members in attendance.

KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Path to 11%: NOVA’s new eight-signal measurement framework designed to give brands a clearer view of audio’s effectiveness, backed by a $1 million innovation fund.

Conversational Listening: a new capability designed to provide real-time cultural and audience insight by analysing conversations across audio, social and digital environments.

Audio Planning & Optimisation Platform (APOP): a new planning tool, created in partnership with Landmarks ID, designed to give agencies a single, de-duplicated view of total audio audiences across all networks.

Alchemy: new division brings together audience intelligence, cultural insight, and creative strategy, to help brands unlock more impactful, insight-led audio partnerships.

Path to 11% is tied into research presented by Mark Ritson at the recent CRA HEARD 2026 showcase showing the impact on campaign effectiveness by allocating 11% to audio, with this new program is designed to give advertisers that confidence.

Critical to that, NOVA Entertainment’s Chief Commercial Officer Nicole Bence emphasises, is recognising that no single measurement solution can tell the whole story.

Bence said:

“Advertisers are operating in a market where performance is under more scrutiny than ever, yet the ecosystem around planning and measurement has only become more complex. Our focus has been on simplifying that. By connecting cultural intelligence, real audience behaviour and a clearer view of total audio reach across broadcast, streaming and podcasts, we’re helping brands and agencies plan with greater confidence and ultimately unlock stronger commercial outcomes from audio.”

NOVA is introducing an eight-signal measurement framework designed to complement the tools clients and agencies already use, with participating advertisers able to access NOVA’s new $1 million innovation fund to invest in improving their own measurement signals.

The new conversational listening tool provides marketers with a deeper insight into what audiences are talking about, sharing and engaging with across audio, social and cultural conversations in real time.

Their investment in a new Audio Planning & Optimisation Platform should help brands and agencies plan, optimise and measure audio campaigns with greater precision by connecting listening data with real-world behavioural audience signals via Landmarks ID. Development and beta testing has begun with a brand partner and live campaigns.

NOVA has also launched its new intelligence division, Alchemy, led by Siobhan Siegert.

Alchemy brings together audience intelligence, cultural insight, and creative strategy, to help brands unlock more impactful, insight-led audio partnerships.

Siegert said:

“There’s no shortage of data out there. We’re not looking to add to the proverbial pile or compete where we can’t compare. Our focus is on doing more with what we already have and extracting greater value from it for our partners. That has always been the measure of any alchemist: the ability to transform raw, ordinary elements into something extraordinary. In future, what sets us apart won’t just be what we know, but what we can turn it into.”

Nova’s Red Room 2026 has already demonstrated an expanded program of live music experiences. Keli Holiday live in Nova’s Red Room is on at Selina’s this evening (March 11), followed by international country-pop sensation DASHA in late March and following on from OneRepublic last month.

Also announced at the Infronts yesterday was NOVA’s new strategic partnership with BrandSpace, the retail media division of Scentre Group, who oversee Westfield’s 42 retail destinations.

Bence said:

“We want the case for investing with us to be easy and irrefutable. It’s certainly no secret that audio and retail media are powerfully complementary mediums from a performance perspective, so this is the natural next step for us.

Now, a single brief can unlock the eyes and ears of over 12.2 million Australians, the influence of some of the country’s most trusted creators, and the experiential impact of Westfield destinations. NOVA and Brandspace will collaborate to deliver more unified campaigns spanning radio, music, podcasts, digital and retail media, along with in-centre activations.”

Last but not least, the Nova Podcast Network shared a new creator-led partnership with Alex Hourigan and Sally McMullen (main image), the creators behind Two Broke Chicks. Sal and Al appeared live on stage alongside host, Joel Creasey, to announce the news, joining other recently network acquisitions, including Osher Gunsberg, Jake Craig and Ottie Clarke (hosts of Relatables).

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radio Today.