OpenAI acquires tech news show TBPN; Fidji Simo says the move aims to “help create a space for a real, constructive conversation about the changes AI creates”

TBPN staff will help with marketing and communications at OpenAI but keep their editorial independence, the ChatGPT parent says

Wall Street Journal 2026-04-03 Katie Deighton

Discussion

@sama Sam Altman on x
TBPN is my favorite tech show. We want them to keep that going and for them to do what they do so well. I don't expect them to go any easier on us, am sure I'll do my part to help enable that with occasional stupid decisions.
@jordihays Jordi Hays on x
TBPN has been acquired by OpenAI The world is changing quickly but TBPN will stay the same. Live every weekday just with a lot more resources. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of this journey big or small. We are 17 months in and unironically just getting started. [imag…
@zebulgar Delian on x
TBPN HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY OPENAI WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE GOOD WORK GENTLEMEN, WHAT A RUN
@kevinakwok Kevin Kwok on x
The new earned media is owned media
@supbagholder @supbagholder on x
Meta buys moltbook, then OpenAI buys TBPN what is happening
@hshaban Hamza Shaban on x
OpenAI Buys Tech-Industry Talk Show TBPN 1)everything is becoming TV 2)tech execs/VC's complaining about journalism being too negative are “going direct” or doing friendly long-form podcasts...why not just buy the podcast 3)AI firms are doing a tech giant soft power speed run [im…
@pkafka Peter Kafka on x
Like the CBS/Bari Weiss/Free Press deal, this is one traditional media companies would love to make but could never pencil out. The way you make it work is by not caring about what it costs, because you're one of the richest people in the world.
@davidu David Ulevitch on x
Huge kudos to @johncoogan @jordihays and the entire @tbpn crew. Talking about the future with the people making it happen is a winning strategy, and immensely enjoyable content. Congrats!
@alexweprin Alex Weprin on x
Pleased to announce that I am launching a new video business podcast* *Contingent on it being acquired by a giant company for nine figures, or eight figures if you really insist.
@miles_brundage Miles Brundage on x
TBPN acquired by OpenAI 80,000 Hours Podcast acquired by Anthropic Nick Fuentes acquired by xAI
@austinc3301 Agus on x
Honestly ridiculous. It's impossible for them to maintain their editorial independence, but if that wasn't enough, they'll be managed by Chris Lehane, who is essentially OpenAI's chief political lobbying officer:
@bdanweiss Ben Weiss on x
i now understand that the proliferation of live daily shows in the journalism industry is all an attempt for media orgs to get acquired by openai
@maxwelltani Max Tani on x
I do however applaud Sam Altman for immediately recognizing the value of a media property where my tweets are discussed at length...
@jbsdc Justin Slaughter on x
Begun, the Podcast Acquihire Wars have.
@gazorp5 @gazorp5 on x
This is 100% Fidji's doing. OG Facebookers will remember how much money she wasted on Facebook Watch Originals when she was head of video.
@rpnickson Roberto Nickson on x
Editorial instinct, narrative + distribution will become increasingly important in tech. Congratulations to @jordihays @johncoogan @DylanAbruscato @RealProducerBen and crew. TBPN is a one-of-one, generational brand. Phenomenal execution 👏
@pitdesi Sheel Mohnot on x
OpenAI bought TBPN! They'll report to chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane and help with communications and marketing, but retain editorial independence. They'll wind down their killer ad business. congrats @jordihays @johncoogan @DylanAbruscato! [image]
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
I swear I just checked the calendar to see if it was still April 1.
@thezvi Zvi Mowshowitz on x
The problem, alas, is that even though I actually believe @sama wants this, that is not how it works.
@jordihays Jordi Hays on x
Technology business as usual!
@mjnblack Julia Black on x
AS I WAS SAYING about OpenAI's shifting comms strategy lol https://www.wsj.com/...
@alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x
every tech podcaster about to call whomever they know at Meta “just to check in”
@ajs Alyson Shontell on x
A lot of being a successful startup is knowing when to sell. I think we could look back on this as the Huffington Post-aol moment for creators
@pkafka Peter Kafka on x
People keep telling me the OpenAi/TBPN deal is crazy and makes no sense and I think they're overthinking it. https://www.businessinsider.com/ ...
@danshipper Dan Shipper on x
whoa!!! amazing, congrats to the team!
@tbpn @tbpn on x
OpenAI Acquires TBPN https://x.com/...
@hadas_gold Hadas Gold on x
This is insane
@nicholas_shawa Nicholas Shawa on x
Hats off to some of the greatest entrepreneurs and leaders I've had the privilege of knowing. @johncoogan and @jordihays it has been an honor. Excited for more. So grateful for our @tbpn family
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
🧐 [video]
@scobleizer Robert Scoble on x
Everyone else pays influencers. OpenAI just bought the most important technology journalism firm. Smart. Content is going to decide a lot about the future. OpenAI just bought the best.
@willmanidis Will Manidis on x
many people are saying we're in the deal guy yuga, many are saying
@mikebutcher Mike Butcher on x
Good for them I guess but I don't see how they maintain independence https://www.wsj.com/...
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
surprised they're announcing this the day after April Fools
@mukund M Mohan on x
By when do you think @openAI dumps TBPN when it realizes $BZFDW is the same shi* as TBPN content is a brutal business. Waste of time. I suspect the founders of TBPN will struggle and “buy themselves out of OpenAI after they get some form of exit”. This is a waste of time
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
this quote from OpenAI gives away the game [image]
@andrewcurran_ Andrew Curran on x
OpenAI has bought TBPN. [image]
@jason @jason on x
Excited to announce we've sold All In to Anthropic for $700m Looking forward to working with @DarioAmodei! 😂😂😂
@eric_seufert Eric Seufert on x
Congratulations to the @tbpn team. The lesson in TBPN's popularity is that the public wants a reason to celebrate the American technology sector. Much of the tech media landscape has drifted toward a kind of baleful, sardonic pessimism. But the technology sector is the jewel [ima…
@absoluttig John Luttig on x
through tbpn, coogan and jordi showed that media doesn't need to be cynical to win viewers, instead giving the tech industry the positivity that it sorely needed. it is hard to beat people that are having the most fun. big win for both them and OAI
@jaltma Jack Altman on x
@johncoogan @sama wow i love this, congrats everyone
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
watching tbpn live for the first time. vibes are a little off. feels a little defensive? surprised they aren't mostly talking about the deal... i get that it's hard to talk about for 3 hours. they don't have someone from openai to come on?
@ricburton Richard Burton on x
Joe Rogan selling out to Spotify was terrible This is even more confusing 🫤
@dylanabruscato Dylan Abruscato on x
OpenAI is acquiring TBPN This has been a dream job and the show only gets better from here [image]
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
isn't being a neutral ground a key part of the value of the show for watchers? are they mostly getting bought for strategic know-how or for the show itself
@levie Aaron Levie on x
Everyone's missing the point. OpenAI can now harvest TBPN guest content for training data to automate CEOs out of jobs. It's over.
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
OpenAI buying TBPN story is, to me, the biggest proof point yet of CEO frustration with mainstream media coverage of tech at a time when consumers are growing increasingly skeptical of the effects of AI on society i see this as a marketing expense https://www.nytimes.com/...
@taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on x
OpenAI said one more side quest
@maxwelltani Max Tani on x
Fascinating media deal. Seems like it would present an immediate problem with guest booking and advertising - if you compete with OpenAI, why would you boost a competitor...
@austin_rief Austin Rief on x
Wow. To sell a highly profitable independent media company like TBPN, the price must have been insanely high. [image]
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
interesting... as part of negotiations with OpenAI, TBPN has a “Commitment to Editorial Independence” written into the contract, which states the following: [image]
@buccocapital @buccocapital on x
Does Dario have the courage to do what needs to be done? [image]
@ti_morse Ti Morse on x
@johncoogan @sama Absolute killers. Sadly Elon can never go on TBPN now 😂
@dseetharaman Deepa Seetharaman on x
OpenAI explains its rationale a bit more on its Substack, saying the discussion about AI is “driven by scoops, but just as often and more constructively by ideas: the why, the how, and what's next.” (Bolds are mine) And later: “That's why TBPN is so interesting and important.
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
The old pivot-from-video to one video podcast move. Classic.
@aagave Andrew A. Rosen on x
Good for @tbpn for cashing out quickly. Business rationale makes sense. Long-term I think it's a mistake. This is a moment where you want to have relationships with more advertisers than fewer.
@jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x
No words... or I just can't think of them yet. https://www.wsj.com/...
@lindsmccallum Lindsay McCallum Rémy on x
Having worked closely with @DylanAbruscato @johncoogan @jordihays and the TBPN team over the past year, I couldn't be more excited to see @OpenAI supporting new media in such a big way. AI is moving fast, and the old comms playbook just isn't enough. We need to support better
@eriktorenberg Erik Torenberg on x
The future of marketing is buying creators/media properties
@edzitron Ed Zitron on x
feels like the top is here or very close to it
@shakeelhashim Shakeel on x
Sorry, how do you plan to retain “full editorial control” while reporting to the company's chief lobbyist?
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
OpenAI just bought TBPN 1) I doubt this is about the podcast itself as there is no reason for OpenAI to buy a tech podcast. In addition, the TBPN podcast will now face new headwinds as they officially lose their independence. For example, I'm skeptical Mark Zuckerberg will want…
@samfbiddle Sam Biddle on x
OpenAI acquiring TBPN seems like a real “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” situation to me
@jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x
“Elon has X. Altman has TBPN.”
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
i think this sets a price floor for dwarkesh, fridman, sundberg etc when other tech ceos start to get jealous that their favorite show belongs to sam altman time to see if the rest of bigtech starts pulling out their checkbooks....
@samfbiddle Sam Biddle on x
one of the only growth areas left in media is telling tech executives what they want to hear
@hadas_gold Hadas Gold on x
This was... 2 weeks ago? Now OpenAI is buying a daily 3-hour show. https://www.wsj.com/... [image]
@sarafischer Sara Fischer on x
🚨 OpenAI acquires TBPN “TBPN under OpenAI will wind down its advertising business, which saw co-founders and hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays read commercials aloud radio-host-style and don racing jackets emblazoned with sponsors' logos.” https://www.wsj.com/...
@dylanabruscato Dylan Abruscato on x
TBPN will remain an independent platform for founders to share news, launch products, and interact with the most engaged audience in tech. We'll maintain full editorial control while working with OpenAI to scale the show's reach and production. See you at 11a PT, every weekday.
@cjc Cristina Cordova on x
“Why sponsor the show when you can just own it?” — @sama, probably.
@loudmouthjulia Julia Alexander on x
Prominent media investor told me something a while back that stuck with me (paraphrasing): “two types of founders - ones who know when to sell and ones who hold on for too long. If your company trades on cool, better to know that legitimate cool factor goes away very, very fast.”
@johncoogan John Coogan on x
OpenAI acquires popular tech news show TBPN; the show will stay the same and will continue to air live at 11am PT weekdays
@eidyngray.scot Tristan Gray on bluesky
OpenAI has bought a media startup popular with its own employees and tech bros? — Lads that's not where your comms and PR limitations are! — www.wired.com/story/openai...
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky
OpenAI buying a podcast for a few hundred million and SpaceX IPOing for a $2 trillion feels like a wierdly localized form of ZIRP.
@fasterthanli.me Amos on bluesky
guys it's too late for april fools' openai.com/index/openai...
@katie-drummond Katie Drummond on bluesky
Nice for OpenAI to finally have one profitable product:
@harrymccracken.com Harry McCracken on bluesky
As I never tire of mentioning, Microsoft seriously considered buying PC Magazine not long after it launched in 1982. www.wsj.com/cmo-today/op...
@neillewisjr Neil Lewis, Jr on bluesky
Today in billionaires buying the media outlets that cover them: — www.cnbc.com/2026/04/02/o...
@brbarrett Brian Barrett on bluesky
Wow OpenAI finally has a profitable business
@paris.nyc Paris Martineau on bluesky
the AI bubble has officially reached the stage where they're just doing state sponsored media now www.wsj.com/cmo-today/op... [image]
@alexshultz Alex Shultz on bluesky
In light of the news that OpenAI is acquiring TBPN and pledging “editorial independence,” here are a few snippets of a TBPN interview from October '25, when the TBPN hosts fawned over Sora to Sam Altman and Bill Peebles — openai.com/index/openai... [images]
@isolyth.dev @isolyth.dev on bluesky
OpenAI has bought... TBPN... Which seems to be a podcast? Or sorry, a “live tech talk show”. Kinda feels like they just don't know what to do with their billions at this point
@caseynewton Casey Newton on bluesky
About 10 minutes after announcing that it was time to cut back on side projects and pivot to the enterprise, OpenAI has acquired a media company 🤔 openai.com/index/openai...
@doubleohkevin Kevin on bluesky
OpenAI is not in the tech business, it's a marketing company. [embedded post]
@joshsternberg.com Josh Sternberg on bluesky
OpenAI getting into the content game, buying TBPN, “an online talk show that aims to compete with Bloomberg and CNBC in by-the-minute analysis of technology news and executive interviews.” — www.wsj.com/cmo-today/op...
@parkerortolani.com Parker Ortolani on bluesky
OpenAI buying TBPN is genius, crazy, but genius. www.wsj.com/cmo-today/op...
r/BetterOffline r on reddit
OpenAI acquires tech podcast TBPN
r/OpenAI r on reddit
OpenAI Buys Tech-Industry Talk Show TBPN
@steph_palazzolo Stephanie Palazzolo on x
Wondering why Fidji Simo wanted OpenAI to buy TBPN? We get into the decision and more, including Simo's thoughts on OpenAI getting into social media, why the startup pulled back on Instant Checkout and the company's longer-term vision: https://www.theinformation.com/ ...
@jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x
“Simo came up with the idea earlier this year, shortly after the company's previous chief communications officer, Hannah Wong, had left, the person close to her said.” https://www.theinformation.com/ ...
@edzitron.com Ed Zitron on bluesky
Embarrassing watching members of the media fawn over this and act like it's a 4d chess move vs. Fiji Simo having literally one idea: buy media and show it. — I also genuinely question TBPN's reach and their revenue! But I guess we will never know now. [embedded post]
@newsjennifer @newsjennifer on bluesky
Pro tip: nobody is buying the ‘editorially independent’ bullsh*t. [embedded post]
@masnick.com Mike Masnick on bluesky
I spent most of my day recording podcasts, and on the last one, before we started my guest told me that this had happened and my first thought was “wait, is there some other TBPN?” because... what? [embedded post]
@grantbrisbee Grant Brisbee on bluesky
The Roundtable was also in these talks, but Andy kept saying “retaaaaainer” until they walked out [embedded post]
@caseynewton Casey Newton on bluesky
For that kind of money you could employ a handful of AI researchers! [embedded post]
@oracularhades.com Josh on bluesky
“editorially independent” lol i smell bullshit [embedded post]
@edzitron.com Ed Zitron on bluesky
very very strange. Why would TBPN sell? Other to cash out of course. They were already an egregious AI booster! [embedded post]
@obrien Chris O'Brien on x
Anyone who thinks this is going to help OpenAI with enterprises and developers is 🤡
@apompliano Anthony Pompliano on x
OpenAI acquired TBPN for $100M+ but most people are drawing the wrong conclusions. OpenAI doesn't care about TBPN as a business or a show. They immediately shut down all ads and they are going to leave full editorial independence to John and Jordi. That is a big win for TBPN
@amir Amir Efrati on x
these are not normal times [image]
@axios @axios on x
NEW: @sama speaks for 1st time since OpenAI acquisition of TBPN, telling @mikeallen: “I'm convinced we'll have them completely maintain their independence, but the world's gotta trust that too. There've been other examples of [tech owning media] where that doesn't come across.” […

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OpenAI acquires tech news show TBPN; Fidji Simo says the move aims to “help create a space for a real, constructive conversation about the changes AI creates”

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