Former Mamamia podcast boss Rachel Corbett joins Nova

NOVA Entertainment has secured Rachel Corbett to lead a foray into podcasting.

Her appointment follows the network’s shock split from Acast, with both businesses flying solo from this week after the pair’s three-year deal was not renewed.

Acast also had an announcement of their own today, revealing six new hires within their sales and creative teams, including former Southern Cross Austereo executive Tom Roach.

Corbett will be responsible for leading the broadcaster’s digital content strategy, development, production and talent management. She will also lead a team of content creators.

“There aren’t many opportunities where you get to build a network from the ground up,” Corbett tells Radio Today. “The company really wants to charge forward into the digital audio space.

“As someone who’s passionate about creating high-quality audio, the opportunity to lead Nova’s digital team and build out their suite of original shows was a no-brainer.

“Podcast listeners are looking for engaging and entertaining content and working with a producing team to create that is my happy place, so I’m excited to get started.”

Nova’s pop culture podcast The Babble with Matty J entered its third season in May.

Corbett replaces Jay Walkerden from October 5, after he departed the business last March.

A former Triple M presenter and regular on Ten’s The Project, Corbett made a name for herself in podcasting at Mia Freedman’s Mamamia where She grew their podcast network to over 35 titles.

Nova’s own show content is consistently among the top-performing in the Australian Podcast Ranker, with Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty now averaging over one million monthly downloads.

Original content includes The Babble, How To… Life, Confessions Of A Twenty-Something Trainwreck, Finding A Unicorn and The Chaser Report by satirical comedy outfit The Chaser.

The Lachlan Murdoch-owned network also represents local News Corp podcasts The Night Driver and Sky News programs, including one by Corbett’s former on-air partner Paul Murray.

Corbett’s appointment follows the engagement of Tim Armstrong as head of digital audience & monetisation who started in June, and is tasked with growing the company’s digital business.