OpenAI Acquires TBPN, a Daily Live Tech Talk Show
OpenAI acquired TBPN, the Technology Business Programming Network, a live daily tech talk show hosted by Jordi Hays and John Coogan that has streamed online since March 2025. The show averages 70,000 viewers per episode across platforms and generated $5 million in ad revenue in 2025, with a projected $30 million or more in 2026. TBPN has 11 employees and airs weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on YouTube, X, Spotify, LinkedIn, Substack, and Instagram. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a previous guest on the show, said he does not expect TBPN to go easier on OpenAI as a result of the acquisition. TBPN will be housed within OpenAI strategy organization and report to chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane.
THE BREAKDOWN
For talent reps and brand managers, this deal establishes a model where a tech company acquires a creator-led show not just for audience, but for narrative positioning on the AI conversation. Brands that currently sponsor TBPN now have a fundamentally different counterparty, with OpenAI resources and strategic priorities behind the show editorial calendar. For creators running profitable live formats, this sets a precedent that independent talk shows are viable acquisition targets, which gives agents new leverage in strategic partnership conversations beyond traditional sponsorship. If a company this large acquires rather than sponsors, the floor on live show valuations shifts up. Agents repping tech-adjacent creators and hosts should start modeling acquisition scenarios alongside standard deal structures.
Get the full briefing weekly
Read by talent managers, agents, and brand partnership professionals every Friday.