Mar 10, 2026

The Download

By Blikket

The weekly intelligence briefing for podcast industry executives. From network strategy and M&A moves to ad tech innovations and monetization tactics, The Download delivers the insider analysis that shapes decisions at the highest levels of audio. Essential listening for leaders at major networks, ad platforms, and anyone building the future of podcasting.

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Past Episodes

The Download

3d ago18:54

Amazon Folds Wondery, AI Deepfakes Escalate, and the Battle for Political Earballs

Reid Mercer breaks down Amazon’s Wondery pivot into Audible, the rising legal and ethical risk of AI in podcasting, the Fox-fueled return of Bill O’Reilly to podcasting, and what new attribution and monetization tools from Magellan AI and Frequency mean for your 2026 revenue plan.

1w ago17:00

iHeart’s Podcast Surge, Video’s Identity Crisis, and the Sports Audio Arms Race

Reid Mercer breaks down iHeart’s podcast-driven earnings bump, the real economics of the video podcast boom, why sports audio is becoming an arms race, and how shifting listener habits are quietly rewriting ad strategies across the industry.

2w ago16:25

The Video Pivot, Apple's Bet, and Why Rich Paul's Podcast Tells You Everything

Reid Mercer breaks down the podcast industry's fraught relationship with video—from Apple's new visual experience to Netflix circling creator talent—then stress-tests what celebrity vanity pods and pharma branded content actually signal about where real monetization is headed.

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