Chernin Group takes minority stake in Gary Lineker podcast studio Goalhanger

L-R: Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor and Gary Lineker

Garry Jones

Peter Chernin’s US-based media and sports investment firm The Chernin Group (TCG) has taken a minority stake in Gary Lineker’s UK podcast studio Goalhanger.

The partnership sees TCG make a minority investment and take a seat on the Goalhanger board. Financial terms were not disclosed and the transaction was completed this week.

This is the first external investment Goalhanger has taken since it was founded in 2014. The partnership is intended to support Goalhanger’s next phase of growth.

In recent weeks Goalhanger agreed a vodcast deal with Netflix for its the Rest is Football podcast during this summer’s Fifa World Cup, recently signed an archive footage pact with the English Premier League and has been staffing up for growth with three senior hires.

Through the strategic partnership, Goalhanger and TCG will try to expand shows such as The Rest Is History and The Rest Is Football into new formats across television, film, digital video, written formats and live experiences.

Other Goalhanger podcasts include The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is Entertainment, Empire, The Rest Is Science, The Rest Is Politics: US, Sherlock & Co and We Have Ways of Making You Talk, among others, and now employs more than 80 people. The network is led by global talent such as Michael Stevens (Vsauce), Anthony Scaramucci, Katty Kay and Lineker.

In 2025, the company generated more than 750 million full-episode views and streams across its 14-show network, with more than 250,000 paying subscribers.

Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport and Gary Lineker, co-founders of Goalhanger, said in a statement: “Since we first met Peter and the TCG team more than a year ago, it has become increasingly clear that they share our vision for what Goalhanger can become, and are the perfect partner to help us realise that ambition. This allows us to accelerate our US expansion, develop new IP from our hit shows,and take our ideas into new formats, platforms and markets.

“With a record number of paying members, we’re building a next-generation media company rooted in trust, creativity and curiosity and this partnership marks an exciting new chapter in that journey.”

TCG’s portfolio includes Barstool Sports, Hello Sunshine, The Athletic and US podcast network Audiochuck.