Acast takes Canada
Podcast giant now has on-the-ground operations in 10 countries
Podcast giant Acast has launched in Canada, bringing its podcast technology and advertising services to creators, publishers, agencies, and brands across the region. Its launch in Canada builds on its rapid international expansion across several continents in the past year, including its launch in Mexico, its launch in Ireland, and its partnership with JioSaavn to expand its podcast network in South Asia.
Heather Gordon, former Digital Sales Director at CBC/Radio-Canada, has joined Acast as Managing Director, Canada, and will lead the company’s expansion in the market.
“The opportunity for Canadian podcasters and advertisers is ripe,” said Gordon. “I fell in love with podcasts because of the intimacy they offer, the portability of the medium, and their ability to amplify rich, diverse stories from across the world. Acast, with its commitment to creators and its industry-leading offering for advertisers, is charting out the future of podcasting in Canada and beyond.”
Canada is among the most mature markets worldwide when it comes to podcast creation and consumption. In a recent study on podcast penetration, Edison Research and Triton Digital ranked Canada at the top of the world among countries surveyed, with 37 percent of adults in Canada listening to podcasts monthly.
Brian Danzis, who is Managing Director, Americas at Acast and will work closely with Gordon, said: “Heather’s track record scaling podcast sales and leading strategy with major players in the industry is unmatched. With her at the helm in Canada, we’re hitting the ground running. As more and more podcasts become borderless, capturing interest from listeners in multiple territories, it’s increasingly important to offer ad partners cross-market campaigns that reach consumers in North America and beyond.”
Acast Canada launches with a slate of major publisher partners in the region, including the CBC, Corus, Entertainment One (also known as eOne), and Terry O’Reilly’s Apostrophe Podcast Company. Acast has also partnered with major indie creators from the region to host and distribute their shows, including Canadian True Crime, #MOMTRUTHS, and Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!.
Prior to Acast’s launch in Canada, it had already amassed nearly 11 million monthly listens in the region across its portfolio of shows.
Acast’s investment into the Canadian market has been met with excitement among advertisers in the region, who can run robust campaigns across shows and genres in Acast’s portfolio — and target audiences domestically and globally — using Acast Marketplace.
“Podcasts are a very promising new frontier for brands and advertisers,” said Scott Stewart, President of Toronto-based VMC Media Group. “Acast’s investment in the Canadian market is extremely promising for us as we’re now able to reach heavily engaged Canadian audiences, providing our clients with exclusive reach and top tier placement for their ad campaigns.”
