Amazon has secured a major deal to host Oprah Winfrey's video podcast, along with her Book Club and Favorite Things segments, as reported by The New York Times and Variety. Starting in July, The Oprah Podcast will release new episodes twice per week, an increase from its current once-weekly schedule. The show will debut across Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible, and Fire TV channels, while continuing to be available on YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Expansion of Wondery's Celebrity Portfolio
The Oprah Podcast will join Amazon's Wondery brand, which already features popular celebrity-hosted shows such as New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, and Baby, this is Keke Palmer. Last year, Amazon restructured Wondery, keeping creator-led shows under the studio's branding while moving narrative-driven series like Dr. Death and American Scandal to Audible.
Netflix's Growing Interest in Video Podcasts
Alongside Amazon, Netflix is also entering the video podcast space, with new partnerships with Spotify and iHeartMedia, as well as original shows featuring Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin. This trend highlights the increasing competition among streaming platforms for exclusive podcast content.
Archival Content from The Oprah Winfrey Show
The deal also includes all 25 seasons of The Oprah Winfrey Show, though Amazon is still determining how to present the old TV episodes. According to Variety, options being considered include clipping together interviews on specific subjects or rereleasing interviews with influential figures who have returned to the cultural spotlight.
This acquisition underscores Amazon's commitment to expanding its audio and video content offerings, leveraging Oprah's massive audience and cultural influence. The move is expected to drive subscriber growth for Amazon's services and strengthen its position in the competitive streaming market.
