Announcement artwork supplied by Vox Media.
Guy Raz is acquiring full ownership of How I Built This from National Public Radio, or NPR, and partnering with Vox Media to expand the entrepreneurship franchise.
The September 29 announcement calls for video episodes on YouTube and social platforms this fall, twice as many episodes beginning in early 2027 and a return to live events.
Vox will provide sales, marketing, distribution, business operations and live-event support. The announcement does not disclose the acquisition price or commercial terms.
The host becomes the owner
The arrangement gives broadcasters considering independence a concrete model to examine: the creator owns the franchise while an outside media company supplies commercial and distribution capabilities.
Whether that model works elsewhere depends on the agreement. Archive rights, audience access, production obligations and exit provisions can matter as much as the headline ownership change.
The expansion is planned in stages. Video arrives first; the larger episode schedule is expected next year.
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