Podcast announcements aplenty at ARN’s Upfront event

ARN has detailed its podcast partnerships for 2026 – along with its new and returning podcasts – at today’s Upfront event in Sydney.

ARN’s iHeart is partnering with women’s lifestyle network Are Media to distribute and represent a range of premium podcasts, alongside cross-platform commercial opportunities for brands including WHO, ELLE, marie claire, Belle, Home Beautiful, The Australian Women’s Weekly and Gourmet Traveller.

ARN’s iHeart is also expanding its slate of iHeart Originals.

The first Original to launch is Love Island Australia: Officially Unpacked, premiering tomorrow in partnership with ITV Studios Australia and Nine.

As well, iHeart is teaming up with Making The Call to launch an Australian audio network dedicated entirely to women’s sports.

This initiative will deliver daily coverage, podcasts, and content focused on elite to amateur athletes, competitions, and stories from across the nation.

iHeart Women’s Sports Network will promote established and emerging athletes while providing fans with greater access to the stories, commentary, and conversation shaping women’s sports.

The network will deliver daily news bulletins and updates across ARN’s metro and regional stations, celebrating the best of women in sport every day.

The bulletins will be led by broadcaster Rana Hussain – a leading voice in inclusion.

Lauren Joyce, ARN Chief Audience and Content Officer, said “iHeart Women’s Sports will celebrate incredible athletes, share their stories, and show just how powerful women’s sport is. This network is about inspiring the next generation, giving every fan a chance to connect with the game, and putting women’s sport front and centre.”

“But it’s about more than coverage – together with Making The Call, we’re creating real pathways for women and non-binary individuals into sports media, building the biggest women’s sports audio network in Australia while supporting the next generation of talent.”

Elsewhere, ARN has launched the next-generation iHeartRadio app into Australia, bringing free mobile features and content access to local listeners.

The redesigned app – iHeart Australia’s most significant product update since its launch – blends the simplicity of the traditional car radio experience with the full capabilities of mobile streaming.

ARN has announced it will debut iHeartMedia’s branded content studio Ruby in Australia, dedicated to crafting meaningful, impactful, and culturally relevant storytelling with partners through branded podcasts.