NOVA Entertainment inks The Chaser for new podcast series

After departing Triple M in December for greener pastures, satirical comedy outfit The Chaser are back with a new podcast through NOVA Entertainment.

The Chaser Report, a weekly half-hour comical current affairs show, promises a short and sharp look at the week’s news and launches on Friday.

According to a statement, each episode includes “medically-dubious and irresponsible advice on how to survive the coronavirus lockdown through the consumption of alcohol”.

Their timing couldn’t be more perfect as just about every network has reported significant spikes in podcast downloads as the Australian population self isolates and reengages with audio.

“When Nova approached us to do a podcast, we thought we should do something that nobody has done before,” The Chaser’s Charles Firth told Radio Today. “And so naturally we decided to do a True Crime podcast. Nobody is doing that.”

“Unfortunately, none of us knew of any crimes that hadn’t already been solved and then dismissed by the High Court on appeal. So the original idea for the podcast was for us to commit a whole new raft of crimes, and then solve them.

“It would have been amazing,” added Firth, “because as a listener, you wouldn’t have the horrible suspense of not knowing who committed the crime.

“Anyway, then the lockdown happened, and it blew those plans to pieces. So we looked at the podcast market, and worked out that there’s a huge gap in podcasts for people who want to listen to current affairs but don’t want to trust what they’re listening to. The Chaser Report fills that gap.

“We’ve actually been doing podcasts for three years, but it was a with a small business operator — more of a sole trader business nowadays — called Southern Cross Austereo. So it’s nice to finally be working with a proper media company like Nova.” Ouch!

The Chaser was founded in 1999 as an independent satirical newspaper by editors Charles Firth, Craig Reucassel, Julian Morrow and Dominic Knight. They were later joined by “the far more talented” Andrew Hansen, Chas Licciardello and Chris Taylor.

Best known for their wildly popular ABC TV series’, including CNNNN and The Chaser’s War on Everything and Election Desk, the comedians have produced over 15 TV and radio shows.

Kane Reiken, NOVA Entertainment’s digital commercial director said: “From chasing down politicians to their headline breaking stunts, we have been super fans of The Chaser for years and are pumped to be working alongside them in developing unique brand integration and sponsorship opportunities for their new podcast series.”

The Chaser Report will be available wherever you get your podcasts from April 17.