Good Karma Brands will take over all sales and sales operations for ESPN Radio and ESPN’s podcast business.
ESPN will continue to be responsible for content, distribution and marketing for its audio businesses. Good Karma, which acquired ESPN’s owned & operated radio stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York in December 2021, owns ESPN Radio branded Sports stations in those markets in addition to Cleveland, Madison, Milwaukee, West Palm Beach, and Beaver Dam WI.
Good Karma Brands President Steve Politiziner will lead the new national sales efforts by the company.
Good Karma Founder/CEO Craig Karmazin shared the following letter about the deal:
I am excited to share with you that we have entered into an agreement for Good Karma Brands to handle the sales and sales operations of ESPN Radio Network and the ESPN Podcast business beginning Friday, July 28, 2023. GB’s newest division will be led by our President, Steve Politiziner.
This partnership reaffirms ESPN’s commitment to audio while endorsing GKB as a trusted operating partner and primary sales representative across multiple platforms – audio, digital, and events. Our relationship with ESPN began over 20 years ago with GKB’s affiliate relationship with ESPN through our radio stations and has grown to encompass Florida-based bowl games with ESPN Events, ESPN’s digital assets, and our recent purchases of their largest market radio stations. We are thrilled to now lead sales for ESPN Radio and ESPN Podcasts connecting advertising partners with passionate sports fansacross the country.
Norby Williamson, ESPN Executive Editor & Head of Event and Studio Production: “ESPN has been leading and innovating in the audio space for over 30 years with our national radio lineup as well as our live event schedule with over 300 signature events annually and always-expanding podcast library. This latest iteration of our long-standing partnership with Good Karma Brands reinforces ourcommitment and ability to further grow the business.
As we always have, ESPN wil continue to lead the content, distributionand marketing across our wide range of audio platforms,with Good Karma now handling the advertising sales efforts.Our strategy. goals and passion for ESPN audio are very closely aligned with the Good Karma team and wil lead to continued success a n dan unmatched experience for sports fans.”Our commitment at GKB remains unchanged as we will stay focused on the three things that matter to us: Our Teammates, Advertising Partners, and our Fans.
To our Teammates- Thank you! tI si your commitment to our core values, passion for operating the ESPN brand at the highest level and continuing to grow closer as a team as we grow larger ni size that has m a d e this moment possible.
To our Advertising Partners – This would not have been possible without your belief in us, willingness to embrace creative ideas, and our commitment to you will continue to grow along with thescale of the solutions that we will be able to offer you.
To our Fans – Without you consuming ourproducts and supportingour advertising partners, none of this would be possible! ESPN’s mission to serve sports fans. Anytime.Anywhere. remains the same and we are so excited to deepen this relationship.
The only thing more exciting than announcing this agreement is the opportunity to work together and even more closely with the ESPN team to help take the Radio network and ESPN Podcasts to new heights.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com