Triton’s Spreaker Adds Voice Cloning For Programmatic Host-Read Ads.

The personal touch of host-read ads is being paired with the potential of artificial intelligence as Triton Digital releases a new feature to Spreaker that uses AI-powered voice cloning to bring scalable, programmatic host-read ad inventory to market.

Triton has partnered with Ekoz.ai, the New York-based company that is the creator of an AI-powered podcast advertising tool. In a joint announcement, the companies say the integration will give advertisers a new way to programmatically plan, buy and deliver host-read ads at scale, while enabling creators to access premium campaigns without taking on additional work.

Through the Ekoz.ai platform, podcast hosts opt in to clone their voice sample “eko,” making their voice and ad inventory available to advertisers. Scripts are generated by AI from advertiser talking points and personalized to each host. The ads are then created in the host’s own voice, host-approved, and delivered to their show, preserving authenticity while reducing manual workload.

“We’re always looking for more partners who help us bring new opportunities to podcasters,” Triton Executive VP Sharon Taylor says. “By enabling scalable host-read ads that preserve the authenticity and control creators value, they’re helping us unlock a new revenue stream for podcasters and deliver more value to advertisers.”

The integration launched in March through private marketplace deals with select Spreaker podcasts. Triton says it is already delivering “millions of impressions” to the market.

“We’ve built the first AI solution that allows advertisers to get host-read ads at scale, and lets podcast hosts expand their influence, without losing what makes them unique,” Ekoz.ai CEO Marty Avallone says. “Hosts keep full control over how their voice is used and which ads run. They boost revenue and deliver a better listening experience, without taking on more work. After all, it’s still their voice, just working harder for them.”

For advertisers and podcasters that don’t use Spreaker, Ekoz.ai allows them to directly access the service from them, but it comes at a cost, according to its website. For ads placed through Spreaker, Ekoz receives a 15% commission on the gross revenue charged for any ads that use the service. But that rate jumps to 25% for ads placed directly with them, with an additional 10% if Ekoz.ai manages the service on behalf of the advertiser.