Lowenstein Sandler represented both Serial Productions and “This American Life” (the most popular weekly podcast in the world and winner of the first Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting), in two simultaneous deals with The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT). The Times is acquiring Serial, the company that produces the groundbreaking “Serial” podcast, while “This American Life” struck a creative and strategic alliance with The Times.
Serial Productions is a team of audio’s best and most successful long-form journalists and narrative storytellers led by Julie Snyder, Sarah Koenig, and Neil Drumming. Each episode of “Serial’s” first season was downloaded 20 million times on average, and the show is credited with igniting the current podcast boom. “This American Life” is the iconic, long-running, weekly public radio program founded by host and executive producer Ira Glass; it won a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year.
As a Times company, Serial Productions will commission and edit its own stories, and they will now be amplified by The Times. The acquisition will allow the Serial team to tell more stories and produce more series than they had previously.
“This American Life” remains an independent company and will continue its weekly broadcasts on public radio and its podcast.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Lowenstein deal team included partners Ed Zimmerman (New York), Anthony W. Raymundo (Palo Alto), and Matt Savare (New York).
About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler is a national law firm with over 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.
