Podcast company Crowd Network has launched a new division dedicated to sports-related content, with the addition of a Crowd Sports channel on Apple Podcasts.
The channel, launched today, 10 November, features three Crowd Network original podcasts hosted by sports experts, including The Geraint Thomas Cycling Club, featuring the Tour de France champion and Olympic gold winner; The George Groves Boxing Club, featuring the former world boxing champion; and Beef’s Golf Club, with professional golfer Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.
“To see Crowd Sports on the front page of the Apple Podcast app is incredibly exciting, and testament to the hard work the team pours into its shows,” said Thomas, whose show has amassed two million downloads in the first two seasons. “I’ve been on the journey with Crowd from the start, and there’s no better team to build a sports show and the community around it.”
Subscribers to the Groves and Johnston podcasts will get ad-free listening, via a three-day free trial and £3.99 per month afterwards. The podcast hosts also work in partnership with the network to share ownership of the brand and allow them to create more exclusive benefits to listeners, such as merchandise and live shows.
“We’re seeing more and more that creators want ownership of their content, and I think that is a big part of why Crowd is such an attractive proposition to those in the industry,” said head of sport at Crowd Network, Rob Roberts-Facey. “We focus on building shows that creators and fans can connect with, giving a proper say in the development of the show and the community that springs out of it.”
“Ultimately, we are providing a platform that talent can develop their brands through, and reach new audiences,” he added. “The launch of a dedicated sports division will enable us to push our work in the industry forward even further, and I’m excited for this next step on Crowd’s journey.”
Other sports podcasts that have been successfully created by the network include The Joe Marler Show, hosted by the professional England rugby player, which launched in 2020 and has since had more than six million downloads.
Creative director at Crowd Network Tom Fordyce believes that they are “leading the way in this competitive sector” of sports podcasts and that they will be announcing a new wave of shows for next year.
“It’s not just the sporting achievements of the sporting talent we work with, but how relatable they are to our listeners – and also what they want to do together,” said Fordyce. “Crowd Sports means a Tour de France champion, world champion boxer and elite golfer are all part of the same team, creating shows and communities around them that are long-term projects and brands.”
