Stitcher
{{short description|American media company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Stitcher
| logo = StitcherLogo.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| founders = {{Plainlist|
- Noah Shanok
- Mike Ghaffary
- Peter deVroede
}}
| defunct = {{End date|2023|08|29}}
| industry = Podcasting
| founded = {{Start date and age|2008|8|8}}
| hq_location_city = New York City, New York
| hq_location_country = United States
| parent = Sirius XM
| subsid = {{Plainlist|
- Midroll Media
- Earwolf
- Stitcher Originals
- Stitcher
}}
| website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829223455/https://www.stitcher.com/ |date=August 29, 2023}}
}}
Stitcher was a media company that specialized in the creation, distribution, and monetization of podcasts.{{cite web |title=Stitcher - The Best Place For Podcasts |url=https://www.stitcher.us/ |website=Stitcher |access-date=2020-07-23 |archive-date=2020-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723054047/https://www.stitcher.us/ |url-status=dead }} Stitcher created original shows through networks such as Earwolf and Witness Docs. Stitcher provided ad sales and distribution services to 300+ shows. Stitcher was home to one of the largest podcast listening apps. In July 2020, it was acquired by SiriusXM. The acquisition was finalized by 19 October 2020.
History
Stitcher was founded in 2008 by Noah Shanok, Mike Ghaffary, and Peter deVroede.{{cite news |last=Siegler |first=MG |date=April 20, 2008 |title=Stitcher reads you headlines, we have invites |work=VentureBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/mobile/stitcher-reads-you-headlines-we-have-invites/}} The company began with just its listening app, entitled "Stitcher", and was venture-backed until 2014 when the company was acquired by Deezer.{{cite news |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |title=Deezer Buys Stitcher, Adds 35K Talk Radio Shows And Podcasts To Its Music Platform |url= https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/24/deezer-buys-stitcher-to-add-talk-radio-and-podcasts-to-its-music-platform/ |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher= | work= TechCrunch.com |date=October 24, 2014}} In 2016, Deezer sold Stitcher for $4.5 million to Midroll Media, a digital media company founded in 2012 which had been acquired by E.W. Scripps Company in 2015.{{cite news |last=Lawler |first=Richard |title=Deezer sells Stitcher less than two years after purchasing it |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016-06-06-deezer-sells-stitcher-less-than-two-years-after-purchasing-it.html |access-date=23 July 2020 |work= Engadget.com |date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Perlberg |first=Steven |title= E.W. Scripps Buys Podcast Company Stitcher |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/e-w-scripps-buys-podcast-company-stitcher-1465239600 |access-date=23 July 2020 | work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite web |last=Quah |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Quah |date=2016-06-07 |title=Hot Pod: Is the Stitcher deal a step toward a closed podcast ecosystem? |url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/06/hot-pod-is-the-stitcher-deal-a-step-toward-a-closed-podcast-ecosystem/ |access-date=2016-06-12 |website= |publisher=Nieman Lab}} In 2017, Midroll Media underwent a rebranding, making Stitcher the parent company to Midroll Media and Earwolf, another entity under the E.W. Scripps network.{{Cite web| last= Weissman| first=Cale Guthrie|date=2018-09-11| title=Exclusive: Stitcher is taking over Midroll Media in branding refresh| url= https://www.fastcompany.com/90234837/exclusive-stitcher-is-taking-over-midroll-media-in-branding-refresh| access-date= 2020-07-14|website= Fast Company |language=en-US}}
In July 2020, Sirius XM acquired the Stitcher company for $325 million.{{Cite web| last= Carman|first=Ashley|date=2020-07-13| title=SiriusXM is buying Stitcher for $325 million| url= https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/13/21315911/siriusxm-stitcher-podcast-deal-buy-midroll-earwolf|access-date=2020-07-14|website= The Verge |language=en}} Following the acquisition, Sirius XM integrated Stitcher's exclusive podcasts into its additional music and podcast listening service, Pandora. At the peak of its popularity, Stitcher was reported to have nearly 14.5 million weekly users.{{Cite web |last=Ivanova |first=Irina |date=2023-06-27 |title=Stitcher parent shuts down podcasting app - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/podcasting-app-stitcher-shuts-down-sirius-xm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628080543/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/podcasting-app-stitcher-shuts-down-sirius-xm/ |archive-date=2023-06-28 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mendez |first=Andrew |date=2022-08-24 |title=SiriusXM digs into subscription-based podcast market |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/24/siriusxm-digs-into-subscription-based-podcast-market-with-stitcher-premium-bundle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929221733/https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/24/siriusxm-digs-into-subscription-based-podcast-market-with-stitcher-premium-bundle/ |archive-date=2022-09-29 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
In June 2023, Stitcher announced that the podcast service would be discontinued on August 29, 2023, as the parent company, SiriusXM, wanted to focus on incorporating podcasts into the flagship SiriusXM subscription. The production side of the company, Stitcher Studios and Earwolf, were expected to continue.{{Cite web| title=Stitcher Farewell FAQ| url= https://stitcher.helpshift.com/hc/en/1-stitcher/section/151-stitcher-farewell/|access-date=2023-06-27|website= Stitcher Helpshift |language=en}}
Operations
Users could listen to and download podcasts through Stitcher's mobile apps on iOS or Android, as well as through dedicated hardware integrations such as Sonos, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, or through a web browser. Stitcher also offered Stitcher Premium, a subscription service that allowed listeners to access exclusive ad-free podcasts, which was announced at the end of 2016 and went live early 2017.{{cite news |last=Whitwam |first=Ryan |title=Stitcher Radio updated to v3.8 with SD card support, ad-free premium upgrade, and more |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/12/12/stitcher-radio-updated-v3-8-sd-card-support-ad-free-premium-upgrade/ |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher=Android Police |date=December 12, 2016}}
Stitcher operated three original content networks with over fifty shows from Earwolf (home to shows like Comedy Bang! Bang!, Office Ladies, How Did This Get Made?), Witness Docs (Unfinished: Deep South, The Dream, Verified), and Stitcher Originals (The Sporkful, By The Book, Science Rules!).{{cite news |title=Stitcher announces slate of new and returning shows on its Stitcher Originals and Earwolf networks this fall |url=https://podnews.net/press-release/stitcher-fall-2019 |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher=Podnews |date=August 6, 2019}}
Reception
Stitcher's revenue has been reported to increase 42% year over year, with its 2019 revenue reaching $73 million.{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=July 6, 2020 |title=SiriusXM Nears Deal to Buy Stitcher Podcast Network |publisher=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/siriusxm-to-acquire-stitcher-1234699545/ |access-date=23 July 2020}} Prior versions of the app have been recognized as one of the best podcast apps for both Android and iOS.{{cite news |last=Badicicco |first=Lisa |title=The 5 Best Podcast Apps for Android and iPhone |url=https://time.com/5136033/best-podcast-apps-android-ios/ |access-date=23 July 2020 |publisher=TIME |date=February 20, 2018}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829223455/https://www.stitcher.com/ |date=August 29, 2023|title= Official website}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829172000/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stitcher.app |date=August 29, 2023|title= Stitcher - Podcast Player on Google Play}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809173043/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stitcher-for-podcasts/id288087905 |date=August 9, 2023|title= Stitcher - Podcast Player on iTunes}}
{{Podcast distribution platforms|state=expanded}}
Category:Internet radio in the United States
Category:Android (operating system) software
Category:Companies based in San Francisco
Category:Discontinued software
Category:Android Auto software
Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2023