Cineverse and The Stand Group Collaborate to Unveil WITZ Podcast Network at SXSW 2025

New Comedy Horizons: The Launch of WITZ Podcast Network

Cineverse, a next-generation entertainment studio, and The Stand Group, a prominent comedy club brand, recently announced their partnership to launch the WITZ Podcast Network. This collaboration is set to debut during the 2025 South By Southwest (SXSW) festival, taking place in Austin, Texas, an event renowned for showcasing innovative talent in the entertainment industry.

This alliance comes on the heels of The Stand Group's successful launch of the WITZ Comedy-TV FAST channel and digital content library in 2022, which has garnered significant viewership. The new WITZ Podcast Network aims to expand their offerings by creating and marketing original podcast content, further monetizing the existing WITZ comedy programming. Barry Gordon, co-CEO of Best Ever Channels (BEC), emphasized that the partnership will allow them to maximize marketing, promotional, and sales efforts for new creators entering the podcasting arena.

With comedy emerging as the most popular podcasting category in the U.S., the timing of this partnership could not be better. Edison Research has pointed out that the comedy podcast genre has surpassed not just news but even sports, and it's a space that continues to grow rapidly. The Interactive Advertising Bureau reported that the audio format has expanded its revenue share significantly—from 2022 to 2024—adding hundreds of new advertisers, a trend that indicates a heightened interest in comedic content.

Cris Italia of The Stand Group expressed enthusiasm over the venture, mentioning that the organization has spent 20 years building live experiences and establishing connections with top-tier comedians. The collaboration with Cineverse is seen as the next step in nurturing talent and promoting independent content in the podcasting space.

The official launch event of the WITZ Podcast Network at SXSW is expected to be a vibrant affair, including appearances from well-known comedians and stars from various entertainment sectors. The celebration coincides with Cineverse’s highly anticipated release of