Amazon has entered a multi-year agreement with Harpo Entertainment that grants Wondery - the company's podcast unit - exclusive distribution and advertising rights for "The Oprah Podcast" in both audio and video formats, the companies said on Monday.
The podcast showcases interviews conducted by Oprah Winfrey with a mix of well-known cultural figures and everyday people on topics that range from relationships to financial health. Past guests on the series have included tennis player Serena Williams, actor Hugh Jackman, television cook Ina Garten and author Adam Grant.
Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, the programme will increase its publishing cadence to two new episodes per week beginning this summer. Starting in July, Wondery will distribute the podcast across Amazon services, including Prime Video and Amazon Music. The show will also remain available on YouTube and other podcast platforms.
The contract extends beyond the podcast itself. It includes rights related to the library of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," along with "Oprah's Book Club" and "Oprah's Favorite Things." Those components create opportunities for Amazon to align Winfrey's content with its audio, video, retail and advertising businesses.
"Hosting this podcast allows me to continue the work I feel called to do - opening the door for conversations that matter," Winfrey said.
Amazon characterized the acquisition as a fit with Wondery's existing slate, noting that the show will join other podcasts in its roster, including "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce" and "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard."
Podcasting has become an area of strategic investment for media and technology companies as listeners and advertisers shift toward on-demand audio and video. Amazon has been building its presence in that market through Wondery as it seeks to compete with other players in a crowded, but growing, segment.
The deal ties Amazon to one of the most recognizable figures in U.S. media and gives the company access to several Oprah-branded assets with broad consumer appeal. How the company integrates the podcast and legacy properties across its services - audio, video, retail and advertising - will determine the operational and commercial pathways for the agreement.
At present, specifics on commercial terms and the precise mechanics of cross-platform integration were not provided by the companies. The continued availability of the podcast on YouTube and other platforms was affirmed, even as Wondery receives exclusive distribution and advertising rights for Amazon's channels.
The agreement takes effect as Wondery rolls the show into its lineup and expands the show's episode frequency this summer, with distribution via Prime Video and Amazon Music beginning in July.