SiriusXM Buys Team Coco; Conan O’Brien To Remain Host Of Flagship Podcast, Launch New Comedy Channel In Multi-Year Deal

deadline.com:

SiriusXM has acquired Team Coco, Conan O’Brien’s podcast network and digital media business, including his popular podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

Team Coco’s staff will continue to produce the network’s slate of podcasts and collaborate on new content for SiriusXM.Deal includes a five-year talent agreement for O’Brien to remain host of his namesake podcast, which will continue to be widely available widely.He’ll also collaborate with SiriusXM to create and exec produce a new fulltime, original Team Coco comedy channel for SiriusXM subscribers.The agreement also includes distribution of select video from Conan’s podcast as well as from the archives of his long-running late night show on TBS, live events, and merchandise from the Team Coco brands.Team Coco launched a decade ago and has garnered more than 1 billion annual video views across YouTube and Facebook.

It averages 180 million annual podcast downloads and reaches 17 million fans across social media. Its flagship podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, which was developed with Stitcher’s Earwolf, ranks as one of the top five most searched-for podcasts, and recently won two Webby Awards.

The deal lends Team Coco the promotional power of SiriusXM, Pandora and Stitcher listening platforms – “amplifying the network’s voices and extending the Team Coco brand to new audiences,” the announcement said.“When I started in television my ultimate goal was to work my way up to radio,” the comedian said. “This new deal with SiriusXM builds on the great relationship that began several years ago with a team that is the standout in their field.”“We are thrilled that Conan remains committed to producing his incredibly successful podcast and will now expand his role into