Amazon secures exclusive rights to Oprah Winfrey's podcast

(Reuters) - Amazon signed a multi-year deal with American talk show host Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Entertainment that gives its Wondery podcast unit exclusive distribution and advertising rights to "The Oprah Podcast" in audio and video, the companies said on Monday.

The podcast features Winfrey's interviews with cultural figures and everyday people on topics including relationships and financial health. Guests have included tennis player Serena Williams, actor Hugh Jackman, television cook Ina Garten and author Adam Grant.

The deal ties Amazon to one of the best-known figures in ⁠U.S. media and gives the company access to several Oprah Winfrey brands with broad consumer appeal. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Podcasts have become a key growth area for media and tech companies as listeners and advertisers move toward on-demand audio and video.

The agreement will expand the show ⁠to two new episodes a week starting this summer. Beginning in July, Wondery will distribute the podcast across Amazon services, including Prime Video and Amazon Music. The show will also remain available on YouTube and other podcast platforms.