Amazon Acquires ‘SmartLess’ Podcast for as Much as $80 Million

Amazon.com Inc. is buying exclusive rights to “SmartLess,” the podcast hosted by actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, hoping the celebrity-interview program can draw more listeners to its subscription-based music service.

Starting on Aug. 1, new episodes of the show will appear on Amazon Music and Wondery+ one week before they are released on other outlets, the companies said Tuesday. Wondery, the podcasting studio Amazon acquired last year, will handle distribution, marketing and advertising sales for the show. The deal also includes the right to team up on future podcasts that the “SmartLess” makers produce.

Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes

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