Bauer Media Expands audioXi With Major Podcast Partnerships in 2026
Bauer Media UK has announced a major expansion of its digital audio advertising platform, audioXi, through new high-impact podcast partnerships that significantly extend its market reach, inventory scale, and advertiser targeting capabilities.
With strategic deals signed with AdsWizz Inc. and the Sport Social Podcast Network, Bauer Media strengthens its footprint in the fast-growing podcast advertising ecosystem, reinforcing audioXi’s position as a powerful cross-platform digital audio marketplace in the UK and Europe.
The move expands audioXi’s access to over 10 million podcast listeners per month, while increasing its portfolio to nearly 4,000 podcasts across major genres, including entertainment, business, technology, lifestyle, and sports.
Bauer Media’s Growing Power in Podcast Advertising
Podcast advertising has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments in digital media, driven by rising listener engagement, long-form content consumption, and strong advertiser ROI. Bauer Media’s latest expansion signals its ambition to become a dominant force in audio ad sales, data-driven targeting, and premium brand-safe podcast monetization.
By strengthening audioXi’s podcast partnerships, Bauer aims to:
Deliver greater audience scale for advertisers
Enable more precise audience targeting
Offer premium inventory across high-quality networks
Increase its presence in UK, European, and international podcast markets
These developments align with the broader industry trend toward addressable audio advertising, where brands can personalize messaging based on listener demographics, behavior, and contextual relevance.
audioXi Secures Exclusive UK Sales Rights for SiriusXM Podcast Network
One of the most significant aspects of Bauer Media’s announcement is its expanded relationship with AdsWizz Inc., a global leader in audio advertising technology.
Under the new agreement, audioXi becomes the exclusive UK sales representative for advertising across the SiriusXM Podcast Network, the largest podcast network in the United States.
Coverage Expands Across Multiple Countries
In addition to the UK, the partnership also extends across:
Ireland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Finland
This gives audioXi advertisers cross-border access to international podcast audiences, unlocking new opportunities for brands seeking global reach with localized targeting.
Through the partnership, audioXi will integrate AdsWizz’s advanced ad-tech platform, which provides sophisticated tools for:
Audience segmentation
Behavioral targeting
Contextual ad placement
Real-time campaign optimization
Programmatic audio ad delivery
By combining Bauer’s strong publisher relationships with AdsWizz’s cutting-edge technology, audioXi aims to deliver high-performance, data-rich podcast advertising solutions to agencies and brands.
This technology allows advertisers to:
Reach high-intent listeners
Run dynamic and addressable campaigns
Track engagement metrics and campaign effectiveness
Optimize creative messaging in real time
SiriusXM Podcast Network: The Largest Podcast Network in the US
The SiriusXM Podcast Network represents one of the most expansive podcast portfolios in North America, featuring high-profile creators, celebrities, media brands, and premium content verticals.
By adding SiriusXM inventory to audioXi’s marketplace, Bauer Media gains access to:
A massive international listener base
Premium entertainment and news podcasts
Strong brand-safe content ecosystems
Popular shows with high listener loyalty and engagement
This strengthens audioXi’s ability to offer top-tier podcast environments that appeal to major advertisers looking for credibility, trust, and scale.
Sport Social Podcast Network Partnership Expands Sports Coverage
In a separate but equally strategic deal, Bauer Media has deepened its relationship with the Sport Social Podcast Network, significantly expanding audioXi’s sports-focused audio inventory.
This partnership enhances access to highly engaged sports fans, offering advertisers targeted entry into some of the most passionate listener communities.
Sports Genres Now Included in audioXi’s Portfolio
The Sport Social partnership brings coverage across:
Football
Formula One
Cricket
Rugby
Golf
Emerging sports-focused podcasts
This gives brands the ability to align campaigns with major sporting events, seasonal tournaments, and fan-driven communities.
Capitalizing on Growing Demand for Sports Podcast Advertising
Sports podcasts continue to attract highly loyal, repeat listeners, making them one of the most valuable segments for advertisers.
With upcoming global sporting events—including international football tournaments and major championships—brands are increasingly seeking:
Emotionally engaged audiences
Contextually relevant placements
High-frequency listener environments
By integrating Sport Social podcasts, audioXi strengthens its offering for:
Sports brands
Betting and gaming advertisers
Lifestyle and apparel brands
Automotive and tech sponsors
Bauer Media Says New Deals Increase Depth, Scale, and Data Power
Bauer Media reports that the combined partnerships will increase audioXi’s total network to more than 12 million monthly podcast downloads in the UK alone.
This expansion enables advertisers to run:
More targeted campaigns
Addressable and personalized audio ads
Cross-platform media strategies combining radio, podcasts, and digital audio
With a larger dataset and broader inventory pool, Bauer says audioXi can now offer deeper consumer insights, improved campaign optimization, and enhanced advertiser ROI.
audioXi’s Position Within Bauer Media’s Wider Audio Ecosystem
The new partnerships complement Bauer Media’s existing portfolio, including:
🎧 Rayo Original Podcasts
Bauer’s own in-house podcast productions, spanning entertainment, celebrity interviews, lifestyle, and news.
📻 Bauer’s Radio Brands
Including major UK stations such as:
Hits Radio
Absolute Radio
Magic Radio
Kiss
Greatest Hits Radio
📰 Publishing and Digital Media Brands
Giving audioXi advertisers cross-platform reach across print, digital, social, and audio channels.
This integration allows brands to deploy holistic, multi-channel campaigns, maximizing audience exposure and campaign effectiveness.
Industry Context: Podcast Advertising Continues Rapid Growth
Podcast advertising revenue continues to rise globally as more listeners adopt on-demand audio consumption.
Key industry trends driving growth include:
Increased smartphone and smart speaker adoption
Higher commute-time audio consumption
Stronger brand recall in audio ads
Greater demand for non-intrusive advertising formats
With podcasts offering high engagement and trust, advertisers increasingly see audio as a premium storytelling medium.
Quotes From Bauer Media Leadership
Charlie Brookes, Director of Digital, Bauer Media Audio UK, said:
“These partnerships mark an exciting step forward for audioXi. We are deliberate in choosing partners that reflect our commitment to high-quality, brand-safe content, and both the SiriusXM Podcast Network and the Sport Social Podcast Network deliver exactly that.”
Brookes emphasized that Bauer’s priority remains on premium inventory, listener trust, and advertiser confidence, ensuring that brands are placed within safe and impactful content environments.
AdsWizz Highlights Expansion of UK Market Opportunities
Paul Brown, VP, European Business and Operations, AdsWizz, added:
“We’re excited to expand our relationship with audioXi, giving advertisers across the UK access to the SiriusXM Podcast Network.”
The expanded collaboration highlights AdsWizz’s strategy to strengthen its European footprint, while empowering Bauer Media to serve advertisers with global podcast inventory.
Sport Social Sees Rising Demand for Sports Audio Content
Sophie Hind, Managing Director of Sport Social, said:
“Market demand for sport content and access to fans continues to grow, particularly around major sporting events like the World Cup this summer.”
She added that brands looking to reach large-scale sports audiences will benefit from audioXi’s cross-platform audio marketplace, noting strong alignment between the two companies’ approaches.
Why This Matters for Advertisers
The audioXi expansion delivers several advantages for advertisers:
✅ Larger Reach
Access to millions of monthly podcast listeners across the UK and Europe.
✅ Better Targeting
Improved data segmentation using listener behavior, interests, and demographics.
✅ Premium Brand Safety
Inventory from trusted, high-quality podcast networks.
✅ Cross-Platform Integration
Ability to combine radio, podcasts, streaming, and digital campaigns.
✅ Higher Engagement
Podcast listeners are more likely to remember ads and act on brand messaging.
Why This Matters for Podcast Creators
For podcast publishers and creators, Bauer’s expansion means:
Increased monetization opportunities
Access to larger advertisers and agency budgets
Better ad fill rates and CPM performance
Support from a major media sales infrastructure
It also signals growing mainstream investment in podcast content, benefiting the wider creator economy.
Competitive Landscape: Bauer vs Other Podcast Ad Networks
Bauer Media’s expansion places it in closer competition with:
Global podcast ad networks
Streaming platforms with in-house ad tech
Independent audio monetization firms
By combining technology, content partnerships, and cross-platform reach, Bauer positions audioXi as a strong alternative to global podcast monetization giants.
The Future of audioXi: What Comes Next?
Industry analysts expect Bauer Media to continue:
Expanding podcast partnerships
Investing in AI-powered ad targeting
Building programmatic audio marketplaces
Launching more exclusive podcast ad sales deals
Strengthening European and global podcast reach
As podcast listening continues to rise, audioXi could become a central hub for premium audio advertising in Europe.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
Bauer Media expands audioXi with major podcast partnerships
New deals include AdsWizz and Sport Social Podcast Network
audioXi gains exclusive UK sales rights for SiriusXM Podcast Network
Total reach expands to 10+ million monthly podcast listeners
Portfolio grows to nearly 4,000 podcasts
Sports coverage expands across football, F1, cricket, rugby, and golf
Advertisers gain improved scale, targeting, and premium inventory