Meredith reveals programming slate of premium video and audio content
Food, lifestyle, and entertainment media company Meredith Corporation has unveiled a new slate of premium video and podcasting programming at the annual IAB NewFronts event, providing new ways for consumers to engage with content from its many brands.
The announcement follows a rise of 16 per cent in digital engagement with Meredith brands and a 45 per cent year-over-year climb in video views across owned-and-operated sites from January through December 2020, according to Google Analytics. At the same time, Meredith’s content drove over US$1.2 billion in retail sales from its shopper and e-commerce capabilities.
“Meredith serves the fundamental needs and passions of American women, many of whom are primary household decision makers,” said National Media Group President Catherine Levene.
“The enormous demand for our food, parenting, health, home, lifestyle, and entertainment content and experiences across our channels demonstrates how in sync our brands are with our massive audiences today,” she added. “We’re proud to participate in both the NewFronts and Podcast Upfronts, two marquee industry events that reflect our commitment to innovative digital content and production across platforms.”
Driven by real-time insights and predictive intelligence capabilities, Meredith’s new programming includes the following:
- One and Done with Ayesha Curry – PEOPLE
Founder of Sweet July magazine published by Meredith, bestselling author, lifestyle expert and super foodie Ayesha Curry shares her favorite “one pot, one pan” recipes in this new cooking series designed for busy people. - PEOPLE in the ’90s – PEOPLE
Hosted by PEOPLE’s Deputy West Coast Editor Jason Sheeler and Style & Beauty Director Andrea Lavinthal, PEOPLE in the ’90s is a podcast (and accompanying video series) launching June 3. - SeeHer Story – PEOPLE
Returning for a third season, this weekly series hosted by Katie Couric will profile groundbreaking women who have shaped history and culture, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Sandra Oh, and Amy Van Dyken. - SeeHer Multiplicity – PARENTS, Health, PEOPLE en Español, PARENTS Latina
The program shines a spotlight on the juggling act many multicultural women perform and on how layered identities are the source of strength and resilience. - She Rises: Reinvention – PEOPLE
Women are shifting careers, education plans and family structures, particularly as we reemerge after the pandemic. She Rises: Reinvention profiles everyday women as they overcome obstacles to pursue their true callings.
On May 12, Meredith will also share its slate of audio programming at the IAB Podcast Upfronts. The company has introduced 15 new podcasts or seasons in the past year. Highlights of Meredith’s line-up of podcasts include:
- PEOPLE IN THE ’90s with co-hosts Jason Sheeler, PEOPLE Deputy West Coast Editor, and Andrea Lavinthal, PEOPLE Style & Beauty Director. Each episode will centre on one issue of PEOPLE from 1990–1999. PEOPLE catches up with its favourite stars – such as Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Elizabeth Hurley, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julia Stiles and Paula Abdul – and swoons (again) over beloved, flannel-shirted couples. The show will revisit overlooked, overhyped or underrated pop culture gold. 12 episodes will launch June 3.
- PEOPLE: ME BECOMING MOM
- Celebrity moms sit down with Zoë Ruderman, PEOPLE’s Head of Digital, to share their personal stories about the road to motherhood.
- PEOPLE EVERY DAY with host and PEOPLE Editor-at-Large Janine Rubenstein.
The company is also introducing the Video Accountability Suite, a variety of measurement tools aimed at proving video advertisers’ performance.
“Measuring lift for advertisers and their positive campaign results across our video programming is a significant Meredith offering. Our new suite of measurement solutions demonstrate advertising impact against their chosen KPIs, including brand awareness, purchase intent or driving retail sales,” said Alysia Borsa, President of Meredith Digital.
“We continue to double down on employing our rich, proprietary first-party data and insights, which enable us to understand and predict trends. This process – which we call Insights & Imagination – is the engine behind this new premium programming slate. It results in empowered audiences, while also allowing marketers to integrate into our premium, brand-safe environments, including shoppable video.”
“We are fueling viewership across our O&O properties and expanding audience growth across OTT, social channels and voice,” Meredith’s new Digital Chief Content Officer Amanda Dameron added. “Podcasting is immediate and intimate. It creates a unique space for an authentic, unguarded exchange of ideas and is perfectly suited for our brands.”
Meredith’s announcement echoes a similar move by Condé Nast which also released details of its new programming offer at IAB NewFronts.
