out an executive to lead acquisitions of new exclusive shows. Originals could allow Apple to cross-promote its own TV shows, and it's reportedly seeking to acquire podcasts that could be adapted into compelling TV and movies for its streaming service. that Apple had purchased Scout FM at some point earlier in the year. The startup curated stations for podcast listening based on user preferences and was apparently gaining traction among iPhone, Android, and Amazon smart speaker users.
, a podcast management platform that creators use for publishing and distribution, as well as to collect consumption metrics. Stitcher for a whopping $325 million. Stitcher is a centralized platform for creation, monetization, and distribution. The acquisition was generally viewed as a good one for SiriusXM as the company further defines its audio strategy.