Gary Lineker’s podcast enterprise, Goalhanger Podcasts, has reported a big £1.4 million surge in earnings, underlining its outstanding rise within the audio broadcasting sector.
Newest figures filed at Firms Home present the previous footballer and BBC presenter’s enterprise accrued retained earnings of £2.03 million final yr, up from £590,000. Money reserves additionally jumped from £560,000 to £2.7 million. Based in 2019, Goalhanger has turn into a heavyweight in podcast manufacturing, delivering hit reveals akin to The Relaxation Is Soccer, The Relaxation Is Politics and The Relaxation Is Historical past. Collectively, these programmes have surpassed 400 million audio downloads and 85 million YouTube views.
Lineker, 64, launched the enterprise alongside former ITV controller Tony Pastor and ex-BBC government Jack Davenport, holding a majority stake within the firm. His personal collection, The Relaxation Is Soccer, co-hosted with BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, tackled Euro 2024 head-on, chalking up 19.6 million downloads in the course of the match. In the meantime, the agency has additionally expanded its workforce from seven to 16 staff over the previous yr.
Commenting on Goalhanger’s fast development, soccer finance professional Kieran Maguire stated: “These figures are spectacular. Gary Lineker’s eye for a smart business opportunity is as keen as it was during his England playing days. The popularity of Goalhanger’s podcasts has delivered significant rewards for everyone involved.”
Along with The Relaxation Is Soccer, the corporate’s catalogue boasts The Relaxation Is Politics, hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, which launched in 2022 and shortly attracted a loyal following. The Relaxation Is Historical past, led by historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland, has likewise loved widespread acclaim since its debut in 2020.
A Goalhanger spokesperson stated: “We’re pleased with the continued growth of Goalhanger and the success of our shows, and we look forward to seeing our network continue to expand.”
Regardless of stepping down as presenter of Match of the Day in Might after a 25-year tenure, Lineker will stay a fixture on the BBC. He’s set to entrance protection of the 2026 World Cup and the FA Cup from subsequent season. “It felt like the right time,” he remarked. “I bowed out of my football career when it was right, and this feels the same. The BBC is taking Match of the Day in a fresh direction, and it’s sensible for someone else to take the helm. But you’ve not quite got rid of me just yet.”
