Hubbard Radio Appoints John Goforth As VP/GM of Podcasts

Hubbard Radio has announced the appointment of John Goforth as the new Vice President/General Manager of Podcasts. The announcement was made by Dave Bestler, Hubbard Radio’s EVP/Chief Financial Officer. 

Goforth, a seasoned expert in broadcast and podcast sales and content strategy, most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer for Magellan AI, where he spearheaded sales strategy and business development. His extensive industry experience includes leadership at HowStuffWorks, iHeartPodcasts, Midroll Media, and CBS Radio.

In his new role, Goforth will collaborate closely with Hubbard Radio markets to enhance sales strategies for existing podcasts. And as part of the Hubbard Radio corporate team, he will create new podcast initiatives and strategic partnerships, to build an even more robust podcast network.

“We fully understand and embrace the evolution in our business from radio to audio,” said Bestler. “We are creating must-hear content in all eight of our Hubbard Radio markets, and listeners are increasingly accessing our content on-demand. John will help expand our podcast offerings, while growing revenue with the podcasts we already have.”

Goforth shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing team at Hubbard and help grow their already impressive portfolio. It’s thrilling to be at the intersection of local and national in the podcast space. As we’ve seen in other channels, cracking the code on local is the key to explosive growth.”

Ginny Hubbard, President/CEO of Hubbard Radio, commented, “The minute I met with John, I knew he was the right person to lead this important initiative. Hubbard Broadcasting has been creating engaging audio for over 100 years. We are proud of our heritage but we are also embracing the next century as listening evolves to include digital and on-demand platforms. John’s background in sales, leadership, strategy, and analytics makes him the perfect leader to work on our local markets.

John Goforth will be based on Chicago and began his role in August 5, 2024.

About Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.

Started in 1923, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in Minneapolis — Saint Paul, Minnesota. Launched by Stanley E. Hubbard, Hubbard Broadcasting operations radio stations and television stations in ten states. In addition to radio and television stations, other Hubbard Broadcasting companies include the satellite and cable network, ReelzChannel, F&F Productions and 2060 Digital.

For additional information on Hubbard Radio visit www.hubbardradio.com.

Hubbard Radio takes 30% Ownership Stake in Podcast One

PodcastOne LogoSt. Paul, MN-based media company Hubbard Radio has taken a 30% ownership stake in PodcastOne, the podcasting network best known for its celebrity-driven shows. From a press release sent out earlier today:

The agreement maintains PodcastOne and parent company Courtside Entertainment Group’s independent control of all operations, as the network continues to expand its collection of more than 200 top-rated programs, delivering more than 400 million monthly impressions for advertisers. The network features many of America’s most popular podcasts, including Adam Carolla, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Austin, Dan Patrick, Chris Jericho, Penn Jillette, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Shawn and Larry King, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Drew, TheCHIVE, the newly launched Mark Schlereth podcast, plus WNYC’s Radiolab, Freakonomics and many more.

Hubbard Broadcasting operates a variety of media outlets, including radio/TV stations, a satellite TV network called ReelzChannel, and the F&F Productions company. It seems natural that a company this established in traditional media would want to get a piece of the growing new media market. PodcastOne has proven its ability to create shows with big names that generate large audiences.

The press release is peppered with the usual corporate-speak of “synergies” and “brand development.” Could this mean some of PodcastOne’s shows will also be heard on terrestrial radio or other outlets controlled by Hubbard? It’s too early on in this partnership to know for sure. But this news, along with last week’s announcement of Scipps buying Midroll proves that legacy media companies are starting to take podcasting seriously.