OpenAI Acquires Tech Talk Show TBPN for Several Hundred Million Dollars

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has acquired the popular technology talk show TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network). According to a person familiar with the terms, the purchase price is in the “low hundreds of millions” of US dollars. The deal marks an unusual step for the AI company, which had recently publicly committed to focusing on its core business.

What Is TBPN?

TBPN was founded in October 2024 and has been broadcasting live for three hours daily on weekdays since March 2025. The show has quickly become a fixture of Silicon Valley culture and is regarded in founder and investor circles as a preferred format for technology discussions. Past guests include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and OpenAI founder Sam Altman, among others.

The eleven-person company generated approximately five million US dollars in revenue from advertising last year and was on track to bring in more than 30 million US dollars in 2026. On average, around 70,000 viewers per episode follow the show across various online platforms.

What Does Co-Founder John Coogan Say?

For Coogan, the acquisition is a personal milestone. He and OpenAI founder Sam Altman share a history of more than ten years: Altman funded Coogan’s first company in 2013, later helped during a critical funding crunch, and was active as YC president when Coogan took his second startup through the accelerator program.

“This is a full-circle moment for me. The past year has been the most fun and rewarding part of my career, and we are excited to have more resources than ever going forward.”

Regarding the editorial direction, Coogan emphasized that the show would remain unchanged and continue to go live daily at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Together with co-host Jordi Hays, he also stated:

“The move from coverage to real influence over how this technology is distributed and understood worldwide is of enormous significance to us.”

What Does OpenAI Executive Fidji Simo Say?

Fidji Simo, who leads OpenAI’s product business as CEO of Applications, informed staff about the transaction in an internal memo. She justified the purchase with the goal of fostering constructive public debate around AI.

“TBPN is one of the places where the conversation about AI and developers actually happens on a daily basis. Coogan and Hays have created a space for genuine, constructive discussions about the changes that AI brings.”

Simo also highlighted the practical benefit for OpenAI: the TBPN team would help the company with marketing and communications. “They have helped many brands market themselves online, and because they have a strong sense of where the industry is heading, their communications and marketing ideas have truly impressed me,” she wrote.

Editorial Independence and Potential Conflicts of Interest

OpenAI emphasizes that TBPN will remain editorially independent and retain full control over programming, guest selection, and production planning. The show is set to remain based in Los Angeles and report to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer.

Whether this promise is sustainable in practice remains an open question. Critics point to earlier cases in which similar assurances faltered under the pressure of economic interests, such as with the crypto news portal CoinDesk. Adding to this, several of TBPN’s previous advertising partners are direct competitors of OpenAI. The show’s advertising business is set to be discontinued under the new ownership.

Background: Strategy or Distraction?

The acquisition comes at a time when OpenAI is internally pushing for focus. In a memo from last month, Simo had urged staff to focus on core products such as ChatGPT and business coding tools: “We must not miss this moment by letting ourselves be distracted by side issues.”

People close to the company reject the accusation that TBPN is such a side issue. Since neither researchers nor engineers would be deployed for the show and it does not constitute a new product, the acquisition is not a distraction, it was said.

Observers see the deal primarily as a strategic communications measure: OpenAI is under increasing public pressure, including over its collaboration with the US Department of Defense and an advertising dispute with rival Anthropic. With TBPN, the company secures access to a format regarded as credible and influential in the tech industry, enabling it to carry its own message more precisely to relevant target audiences.