Top true crime podcaster Ashley Flowers and her Audiochuck podcast network are leaving SiriusXM and putting down roots at Tubi.
Audiochuck has signed a multi-year deal with the Fox-owned media company that covers exclusive advertising distribution and sales rights for Addicted to crime, the second most popular podcast in the United States, as well as The bridge, so supernatural, Dark Downeast, Park Predators and more. The agreement also includes the development of a Addicted to crime FAST Channel which will be distributed on the Fox Tubi and Fox One streaming platforms, third-party platforms and an on-demand collection of video podcast episodes.
“This first-of-its-kind partnership represents the next evolution of what independent media can achieve,” said Flowers, founder and chief creative officer of Audiochuck. “By joining forces with Tubi, we are not only expanding our reach, we are redefining how true crime stories are experienced through audio and video. This is an incredible opportunity to innovate while remaining true to the purpose and integrity that has guided Audiochuck since day one.”
Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group, said: “Ashley and her team have built a truly unique, premium media company with a strong commitment to meaningful, award-winning storytelling that has a positive social impact. Having admired her achievements for some time, we are now excited to partner with Audiochuck, leveraging our platforms and business expertise in the company’s continued evolution and growth.”
The move better positions Flowers’ Addicted to Crime for the video, which has exploded in popularity and brought in advertising money. In February, Audiochuck received a $40 million investment from Peter Chernin to grow the company.
This appears to be the first outright acquisition of podcasts by Tubi, the Fox-owned free streamer, but comes after Fox acquired podcasting company Red Seat Ventures, in February 2025.
Red Seat Ventures, which acts as Tubi’s in-house creator services company, has a strong business around true crime, with podcasts from Chris Hansen (of To catch a predator fame) and Nancy Grace among his clients. Red Seat also runs CrimeCon, a convention for true crime and mystery fanatics. Red Seat will assume responsibility for advertising sales across Audiochuck’s programs and podcasts.
“Audiochuck is the clear leader in true crime,” said Christopher Balfe, CEO of Red Seat Ventures. “We are excited to partner with Ashley, Matt and the team to help drive their next phase of growth.” Matt Starker, CEO of Audiochuck, added: “Partnering with Tubi Media Group allows us to expand our reach and reimagine how true crime stories are told in both audio and video. I deeply believe in Tubi Media Group’s creator-led media vision and am excited to help them build a world-class creator monetization business. This is an exciting new chapter for the industry – and for our fans.”
It’s unclear what impact the departure will have on SiriusXM, which uses its popular podcasts to power its large podcasting ad sales unit.
Over the past two years, SiriusXM has secured major deals for top podcasts, including Without intelligencethat of Alex Cooper Call her daddyand other highly rated true crime podcasts including Crime Junkie, Dateline NBC, and Rotten Mango. Morbidanother top true crime podcast, moved to SiriusXM in July and The MrBallen podcast announced the move to SiriusXM on Monday.
Always, Addicted to Crime has long dominated the podcast charts, becoming the second most popular podcast in the United States since 2024, just behind The Joe Rogan Experience and in front The Dailyaccording to Edison Research. The podcast is even more popular than Cooper’s Call her daddywho placed fourth. Flower launch Addicted to crime in December 2017 with the aim of “redefining true crime content” through documented storytelling.
It now does so with the support of more than 20 full-time writers, fact-checkers, researchers, and editors, all of whom analyze and investigate more than 50 cases at a time. Audiochuck, an independent media company, has reported nearly 1,000 cases in its history. Audiochuck as a whole employs a team of 100 people headquartered in Indianapolis, where more than 18 original shows take place.
Flowers had signed an exclusive deal with SiriusXM in 2021, giving the company exclusivity on ad sales for Addicted to crimeas well as all shows on the Audiochuck network, including Anatomy of a Murder, CounterClock And Park predators. She also had an Audiochuck channel on the SiriusXM satellite subscription service. SiriusXM’s departure is characterized as a mutual decision; the two sides failed to agree on the terms of the deal.
SiriusXM President Scott Greenstein previously said The Hollywood Reporterthat the company seeks shows with large, monetizable audiences with growth potential and evaluates metrics such as downloads, ad revenue and social media buzz when evaluating shows, and establishes contracts with download floors and metrics that podcasts must meet.
The company also still faces the question of whether its popular satellite radio host, Howard Stern, will renew his contract.
In addition, Audiochuck is preparing to launch a new podcast next month. In partnership with Campside Media, Audiochuck will debut Chameleona series that promises to explore “the fascinating and often shocking world of people who pretend to be someone they are not.” Think about scammers, scammers, and deceptive individuals who operate in plain sight. Chameleon will launch with two episodes on November 13, with additional episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
Alex Weprin contributed reporting.
