Fox Corporation Buys Out Red Seat Ventures
In a strategic move to strengthen its digital media and creator-driven content arms, Fox Corporation has acquired Red Seat Ventures, a top 10 podcast network in the U.S. [1]. The acquisition aims to tap into influential podcast voices, expand audience engagement across platforms, and develop new entertainment franchises with cutting-edge creators.
As a podcast and media company, Red Seat Ventures is renowned for collaborating with some of the most prominent political voices on the internet [3]. Under Fox Corporation, it continues to operate as a significant player in reaching audiences where they actively consume media—podcasts, newsletters, and social media platforms [4]. This aligns with Fox's broader move to diversify content delivery beyond traditional media channels.
Red Seat Ventures has a history of working with influential creators to grow their new media businesses and develop their personal brands. The company owns CrimeCon, a wholly owned live event, and provides tech, marketing, and support for clients including Tucker Carlson, Nancy Grace, Megyn Kelly, Dr. Phil, Bill O'Rielly, Piers Morgan, among others [5].
The Red Seat Ventures executive team, led by founding partners Chris Balfe and Kevin Balfe, will continue to lead and operate the business. Balfe sees opportunities for growth in genres like sports, news, and entertainment, and believes that Fox Corporation will help Red Seat Ventures expand the services provided to creators [6].
Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group, has assumed the role of chairman at Red Seat Ventures. He believes there are opportunities to drive additional scale in the sports, news, and entertainment genres [2]. Consumers are increasingly seeking information, insights, and entertainment directly from trusted voices and brands on these platforms, according to Cheesbrough [2].
Across their 17 creator-led shows, Red Seat Ventures properties cumulatively drove over 200 million monthly active views in November 2024 [1]. While specific monthly active viewership or listenership metrics for Red Seat Ventures under Fox have not been publicly disclosed, its integration into Fox’s digital strategy hints at leveraging substantial audience engagement [2][4].
Fox Corporation plans to build on Red Seat Ventures' influence by creating new intellectual properties (IP) and expanding franchise opportunities with creator partners [3]. This includes strategic investments in creator networks, such as Whalar’s Lighthouse—a network of in-real-life creator hubs—indicating Fox’s intention to nurture a culture of innovation and real-time storytelling [3].
The acquisition of Red Seat Ventures marks a significant investment by Fox Corporation in the podcasting and streaming space. Red Seat Ventures will operate as a standalone entity within Fox's Tubi Media Group, but the details of the integration are not specified [7]. The financial terms of the deal between Fox Corporation and Red Seat Ventures were not disclosed.
In sum, Fox Corporation’s acquisition of Red Seat Ventures aims to bolster its digital content ecosystem by tapping into influential podcast voices, expand audience engagement across platforms, and develop new entertainment franchises with cutting-edge creators. This move complements Fox’s existing assets like Tubi and other internet properties, positioning it for growth in the evolving digital media landscape [1][2][3][4].
- With Fox Corporation's acquisition of Red Seat Ventures, the studio aims to broaden its content delivery by leveraging Red Seat's history of partnering with influential creators in the news, sports, and entertainment genres.
- Red Seat Ventures' executive team, led by founders Chris and Kevin Balfe, will continue to operate the company, seeking to grow in genres such as sports, news, and entertainment, possibly with Fox's support.
- The adoption of Red Seat Ventures' technology and media resources will enable Fox Corporation to create new intellectual properties (IP) and expand franchise opportunities with creators, as suggested by the strategic investment in Whalar’s Lighthouse network.
- The HD videos and streaming content provided by Red Seat Ventures will bolster Fox's digital media arsenal, allowing for the development of new franchises and engaging audiences across various platforms, including podcasts, newsletters, and social media.
