Despite having sold its newsmedia business to News Corp for a bargain price, HT&E – at the time known as APN News & Media – continues to develop a taste for digital publishing.

Through its iHeartPodcast, HereThere&Everywhere – to give its full name – has become Australia’s top podcast publisher, a position it has held for 20 consecutive months.

Financial results for the 2021 calendar year show strong growth for both the iHeartPodcast platform and its core ARN business.

Chairman Hamish McLennan said that while the pandemic had “disrupted business models”, HT&E performed well delivering key strategic objectives, strengthening its radio operations and continuing to invest in digital audio growth.

As a result, it claims one of the strongest balance sheets in Australian media sector, a position which has allowed it to acquire 46 regional radio stations from Grant Broadcasters.

Chief executive and managing director Ciaran Davis said ARN also represented four of the top ten most listened-to podcasts, with almost five million monthly listeners and close to 20 million monthly downloads. Several original shows are planned as advertiser demand helps drive monthly podcast billings.