Now the transfer window has slammed shut, Acast has announced that they are bringing together several brand new podcast signings, alongside some already in the podcasting game, to form Acast United. By joining several small(er) football podcasts under the banner of Acast United, the company says, ad slots and sponsorship across Acast United podcasts will be sold together as a package for brands and advertisers — helping podcasters with smaller but dedicated audiences earn money for their craft.
For advertisers, Acast United aims to help them to reach a dedicated football fanbase, and broadcast their messaging across a wide audience. By supporting Acast United, advertisers will reach the ears of football fans through the voices they trust the most.
Acast continued that they will also offer growth and mentoring support to Acast United. This will include working closely with Acast United podcasts to assist with fan engagement, audience growth, monetisation management and content creation.
According to Acast, the starting line-up for Acast United is:
In goal, The Beautiful Game. Known for insightful interviews with current players and stakeholders in football. Hosts Dej, Buj and Dot provide a safe space for their guests to be their authentic selves as they delve into questions the fans really want to know. In doing this the platform has become a source of information on the football media circuit. Acast says of the podcast, ‘It’s fair to say we have a safe pair of hands between the sticks for Acast United’.
Leading the back line is Goal Diggers – an award-winning black-female-led football podcast, hosted by 18 football fans (on rotation). Goal Diggers leaves no footballing turf unturned covering the Premier League, the WSL, the Champions League and international football with a blend of comedy, analysis and insights. Goal Diggers is a dependable resource of news and entertainment for Acast United, the company says.
In midfield, first up we have Managing Expectations, a US-based show hosted by MLS and USMNT insider Tom Bogert, of MLSsoccer.com and the Guardian. Tom will dive into the biggest story of the week and more with a revolving cast of co-hosts featuring the best voices in MLS and the US national team.
Alongside is maverick playmaker Sharky Does Sport (SDS), hosted by YouTuber and Beta Squad member Sharky. With more than 800,000 subscribers on his own YouTube channel, 180,000 on the SDS channel and 3.5 million with Beta Squad. On his podcast, he’ll be joined by friends and YouTube stars to discuss the very latest in the world of football.
Finally, up front for Acast United is, well, Upfront — a podcast dedicated to Women’s football. Each week, the show will bring the biggest stories from the WSL and beyond, representing the cultural heartbeat of the women's game. According to Acast, Upfront perfectly balances hard-hitting football journalism with fun and light-heartedness — an insightful, informative and deadly combination in attack for Acast United.
Managing Acast United will be a seasoned selection of coaching talent from Acast, including partnership manager, Emi Geddes. “Our first line-up for Acast United includes some of the biggest grassroots podcast talent out there,” explains Emi. “We’ve spent the early part of the year scouting for these podcasts, and with the support of the wider Acast team, we’ll help these podcasters grow, find their valuable audience and earn more money. Throughout the season we’ll add new creators to the team, and present an unbeatable package of football podcasts for brands and advertisers to support.”
Acast United podcasts are available now wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Samsung Free, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
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