Red Seat Ventures, a division of Fox Corp’s Tubi Media Group, operates a network of shows from personalities including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Bill O’Reilly and Piers Morgan.
Now, as part its parent company’s ongoing push to capitalize on the creator economy, Red Seat is looking to empower any podcast creator to make money with Speakeasy: a new owned-and-operated platform developed within Fox aimed at providing creators with monetization, hosting and distribution services — all in one place.
Speakeasy is based on technology from podcast ad-tech company Backtracks, which Red Seat bought last year, following Fox Corp.’s announcement of its acquisition of Red Seat Ventures in February 2025. Currently, Speakeasy is available by invitation only (and you can sign up for one at speakeasystudio.ai). Details on pricing are yet to be announced.
Creators typically have to use multiple vendors and tools to run their businesses across audio and video. Speakeasy, by contrast, provides what RSV is touting as a turnkey solution, providing hosting, ad-supported monetization, AI-powered analytics and support across formats from RSS to HLS and video. Users of Speakeasy can add subscription options to their shows, through an integration with Supercast, the premium subscription platform recently acquired by Red Seat Ventures.
Speakeasy also will give creators the ability to “develop opportunities across Fox platforms and the capability to evolve as they build their business,” according to Red Seat Ventures.
“Speakeasy is the platform we wished all our creators had access to, so we set out to build it,” Chris Balfe, CEO of Red Seat Ventures, said in a statement. “Creators are the new media, and they require an AI-enabled platform that meets the growing needs and opportunities of distributing and monetizing across audio, video and streaming platforms. Speakeasy is built for the next generation of creators.”
Red Seat Ventures says it partners with top creators, brands and media companies, offering investment capital, growth strategy, and monetization and management tools to launch new shows and businesses.
Among its partnerships: Under a deal inked last year between Tubi Media Group and Ashley Flowers’ Audiochuck, which is home to the popular “Crime Junkie” podcast, Red Seat Ventures assumed management of ad sales across Audiochuck’s programs and podcasts.
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