Marvel test-runs content on SiriusXM and Pandora

Before Marvel signed their podcast agreement with SiriusXM and Pandora to create new content for extended play across their services, they did a limited run of their programming on the two networks.

SiriusXM and Marvel launched their first joint initiative in August with an all-new exclusive music station and channel, Marvel’s 80th: The Road to Marvel Comics #1000. As the title suggests, the project was created to help celebrate the 1,000th issue of Marvel comics as well as the company’s 80th anniversary. The programming was a sonic time-warp experience that included an 80-song station playing a track from every year of Marvel’s illustrious history, each connecting to a page of the Marvel #1000 issue.

Marvel’s 80th programming was presented for a limited run through its streaming platform, On Demand and on the Pandora mobile app.

Although Marvel produces its own podcast series called This Week in Marvel, which they publish every Friday on their site and on Apple Podcasts, each episode is a lengthy mishmash of every topic under the sun and the episodes consist of only unscripted content. The new deal is much more comprehensive and the content is well-thought-out and segmented for different audiences.

Pandora president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein welcomes the collaboration with Marvel primarily due to the success the company has had in attracting audiences around the world. He says he’s thrilled to work with them because of their level of quality content and pop culture brilliance; moreover, “they’re bringing that creative genius to SiriusXM and Pandora.”

The probability of success for this collaboration is high considering the current popularity of podcasts, people’s fondness for the characters from the Marvel Universe, Marvel’s ability to draw audiences en masse across all media, the focus on talk and interview-format programming at SiriusXM and Pandora and the fact that they’ve already pre-tested Marvel content with their audiences.

The new podcast deal will give SiriusXM streaming subscribers access to listen to all Marvel podcasts on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, smart home devices and speakers, gaming units, radios, mobile apps, and media players.

SiriusXM and Pandora are part of the same company. Sirius XM Holdings acquired Pandora Media on February 1, 2019. Users can access the shows in Canada through SiriusXM and through Pandora in the US. Pandora is currently not available in Canada.

by Cherryl Bird – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Twitter @ladycbird | Instagram @cherrylbird