OpenAI acquires tech talk show TBPN
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John Coogan and Jordi Hays at Axios Communicator Live in December 2025. Photo: Sam Popp
OpenAI is acquiring TBPN, the media startup with a live tech and business talk show hosted by Jordi Hays and John Coogan.
Why it matters: The deal underscores OpenAI's effort to not just release AI tools but also shape the public conversation on AI.
Driving the news: "TBPN is my favorite tech show," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X. "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."
- TBPN will maintain its editorial independence and continue to run its programming and choose their guests, OpenAI's CEO of applications Fidji Simo wrote in Thursday's announcement.
- Simo said the "acquisition brings a team with strong editorial instincts, deep audience understanding, and a proven ability to convene influential voices across tech, business, and culture."
- TBPN will report to OpenAI chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane. Its advertising business will wind down under the new structure, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Catch up quick: Launched in 2024, TBPN quickly became an influential media startup in tech with a daily, three-hour live show that covers tech and finance in the style of an ESPN "SportsCenter" broadcast.
- The show, which streams on X, YouTube and LinkedIn, has hosted high-profile guests including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Altman.
- Coogan and Hays previously worked as investors and entrepreneurs. On Thursday's live broadcast, Coogan said Altman invested in his first company and they had known each other for about 13 years.
Follow the money: OpenAI and TBPN did not disclose deal terms.
- TBPN expected to generate $5 million in ad revenue in 2025 and was profitable with no outside investors, the Wall Street Journal reported. It hired former Postmates and HQ Trivia executive Dylan Abruscato to help triple that to $15 million in 2026.
- OpenAI this week announced its latest funding round of $122 billion at an $852 billion post-money valuation.
Between the lines: Coogan and Hays framed the acquisition as a continuation of their work on Thursday's show.
- "TBPN is not going away," Coogan said. "We're going to be live every day, three hours, long as we want. We have a lot of flexibility. We're going to do a lot of interesting things."
- "A core part of this is editorial independence," he added. "We can say whatever we want because we're live, and we don't need to run anything through anyone."
Reality check: TBPN has gained prominence for its ability to attract top executives across the tech industry. Now that the show is owned by OpenAI, it's unclear whether it will be able to secure interviews with competitors.
- Instead, it could begin to resemble a traditional owned content strategy, featuring conversations with current and potential OpenAI partners and investors.
Zoom out: Other companies have acquired or launched their own media properties to shape perception and deepen customer relationships.
- Plaid, the $8 billion startup connecting banks and fintechs, acquired This Week in Fintech last month, Axios exclusively reported.
- Robinhood launched Sherwood back in 2023.
- Penn Entertainment acquired Barstool Sports, though later sold it back to founder Dave Portnoy.
What to watch: The acquisition comes shortly after OpenAI said it would focus on its enterprise business and wind down experimental consumer products like its video generation app Sora.
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