Toronto-headquartered podcast advertising network, The Podcast Exchange (TPX), has been acquired by mobile advertising provider, Native Touch.
Founded in 2017 by Jean-Marie Heimrath (who retired as founding CEO in 2021) and Jeff Ulster, TPX was a pioneer in the Canadian podcast advertising space, boasting ad reselling partnerships with iHeartMedia; WNYC New York; CBC, Corus Entertainment; the AdLarge Podcast Network, and more recently the BBC. Stingray acquired a 30% stake in TPX in 2020.
This past July, the company sent a letter to creditors notifying them that the company planned to file a Notice of Intention (NOI) under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, buying it time to come up with a proposal to its creditors as it worked to stabilize the business after facing what CEO Pary Bell termed “sustained financial challenges for some time.”
In an announcement Wednesday, TPX said the acquisition ushers in “a new phase of stability and growth at a time when Canadian podcast listening is becoming increasingly popular.”
“There is incredible momentum in Canadian podcasting,” said TPX Managing Director Gwen O’Toole. “As TPX joins Native Touch, we’re well positioned to bring even more value to brands and publishers looking to reach highly engaged and growing audiences.”
Under terms of the acquisition, TPX continues to operate as a standalone brand, maintaining its focus on podcast advertising sales, publisher partnerships, and content creation.
“Preserving its established identity allows TPX to build on its expertise while leveraging Native Touch’s broader operational support and innovation framework,” the company said in a release.
“TPX has established itself as the go-to partner for brands looking to reach Canadian podcast listeners. Their premium publisher relationships and advanced targeting capabilities makes them a critical player in the audio ecosystem. We’re proud to support TPX as it enters its next phase of growth within the Native Touch family,” added Native Touch Co-Founder & CEO Saad Uddin.
