Octave Audio
Octave is a UK-based B2B audio-visual advertising platform, operating as a News UK subsidiary, that sells cross-platform campaigns to brands and agencies across broadcast radio, podcasts, video/CTV, digital display, and branded content, leveraging first-party News UK data and an AI-powered platform (Octaveai) for ad creation and optimisation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Octave Audio does
Octave is a UK-based B2B audio-visual advertising platform, founded in 2020 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of News UK (part of the broader News Corp media group). The company sells cross-platform advertising campaigns to brands and agencies, spanning instream broadcast radio, a 7,000+ podcast portfolio, video/CTV, digital display, and branded content production. Its primary distribution leverage is privileged access to News UK's owned-and-operated media properties including talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, Times Radio, The Times, and The Wall Street Journal podcast network, which collectively deliver 7M+ monthly audio reach, 350M+ monthly video views, and 1.8B+ average social reach for branded content. Octave has also extended distribution into Australia through partnerships with Sky News Radio and Australian broadcast networks.
The company's technology layer is anchored by Octaveai, launched in 2026, which combines AI-generated voices with Dynamic Creative Optimisation (DCO) to produce multiple premium ad variations in minutes and adapt messaging in real time. DCO is delivered through a technology partnership with A Million Ads (AMA), and interactive voice capabilities are enabled via SayItNow. The platform is supported by integrations with DoubleVerify, IAS, DoubleClick, Flashtalking, Spotify, and Podscribe for measurement, verification, and ad serving. Octave monetises primarily through quote-based media sales across its advertising streams, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Customer base spans financial services (J.P. Morgan), technology (Meta), gaming (EA), telecom (Tesco Mobile), retail (M&S, Rolex, Kwikfit), nonprofit (Cancer Research UK), and gaming/lottery (Allwyn, Grosvenor Casinos), with no disclosed revenue figures. The company employs 11-50 staff and is headquartered at 1 London Bridge Street, London.
Octave Audio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Octave Audio
- Legal name
- Octave
- Website
- https://octaveip.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Octave is a UK-based B2B audio-visual advertising platform, operating as a News UK subsidiary, that sells cross-platform campaigns to brands and agencies across broadcast radio, podcasts, video/CTV, digital display, and branded content, leveraging first-party News UK data and an AI-powered platform (Octaveai) for ad creation and optimisation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Octave Audio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Audio-Visual Advertising
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ad Tech & Programmatic Audio Platforms (MPAIADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)
Keywords
Where Octave Audio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Octave Audio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Audio Advertising: Premium audio advertising placements across instream radio, podcasts, and digital audio inventory. Includes host read sponsorships, spot buys, and branded content across a network of trusted, brand-safe audio inventory.
- Video & CTV Advertising: High-impact video solutions across connected TVs, sites, and apps. Combines award-winning Sport, Entertainment and News content with rich first-party data targeting.
- Digital Display Advertising: Multi-platform site takeovers within premium, brand-safe sports environment, combining rich media formats with advanced data targeting through News UK's Nucleus platform.
- Branded Content: Award-winning branded content delivery across talkSPORT, Virgin Radio, Times Radio and TalkTV, including TV studio productions, social content, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Octave Audio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Octave Audio sells cross-platform audio-visual advertising campaigns to enterprise brands and media agencies, leveraging News UK's first-party data (Nucleus) and premium content inventory from talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, The Times, Times Radio, and TalkTV. Its Octaveai platform adds AI-generated voices and Dynamic Creative Optimisation to create, scale, and refine audio ad variations in real time, supported by tracking and verification integrations with AMA, SayItNow, DoubleVerify, IAS, DoubleClick, Flashtalking, Spotify, and Podscribe.
Product overview
Octave Audio operates as an integrated audio-visual advertising platform offering a portfolio of interconnected products. The core offerings include Instream audio advertising (broadcast radio with +7M monthly reach), Podcasts (7000+ show portfolio with +6.3M monthly reach), and Video & CTV (+350M monthly views). Octaveai serves as the AI-powered platform layer enabling campaign creation, scaling, and optimization with generative AI voices and DCO. Additional products include Branded Content and Digital Display, all unified by first-party data from News UK's Nucleus platform for precise audience targeting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Octaveai: An all-in-one audio advertising platform that enables brands to create, scale, and optimise campaigns using AI-generated voices, Dynamic Creative Optimisation (DCO), and brand-safe audio inventory.
Products and services
- Instream Premium instream audio advertising across broadcast radio partners including talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, Times Radio, and Talk, offering 7M+ monthly audio reach and 750M+ monthly impressions with first-party data targeting for brand advertisers and agencies.
- Podcasts Podcast advertising portfolio of 7,000+ shows including host read sponsorships, spot buys, and branded content, delivering 6.3M+ monthly audio reach and 182M+ impressions across WSJ, The Times, Serial, The Daily, and other premium shows.
- Octaveai AI-powered all-in-one audio advertising platform that enables brands and agencies to create, scale, and optimise audio campaigns using AI-generated voices and Dynamic Creative Optimisation (DCO), producing multiple premium-quality ad variations in minutes.
- Branded Content Award-winning branded content production and distribution across talkSPORT, Virgin Radio, Times Radio, and TalkTV, including TV studio productions, social content, and behind-the-scenes access, with 1.8B+ average social reach and 350M+ video views across 35+ YouTube channels.
- Video & CTV High-impact video and Connected TV advertising across sites, apps, and CTV combining award-winning Sport, Entertainment, and News content with first-party data targeting, delivering 350M+ monthly views and 10M+ monthly UK video reach.
- Digital Display High-impact multi-platform digital display site takeovers within premium brand-safe sports environment, combining rich media formats with first-party data targeting through News UK's Nucleus platform, delivering 7M+ monthly unique views.
Quantifiable outcome
- +4% uplift in likely intent among Techie Gamers (J.P. Morgan campaign)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Octave Audio
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Octave Audio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Octave Audio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.
- A Million Ads (AMA)coreTechnology integration for Dynamic Creative Optimisation (DCO) capabilities, enabling real-time ad customization and testing within Octave's audio advertising platform
- SayItNowsupportingVoice technology integration enabling interactive voice-based advertising experiences, specifically for mobile devices with clear CTAs
- talkSPORTflagshipMajor sports radio station forming core part of Octave's audio inventory, delivering premium sports content and advertising reach across the UK
- Virgin Radio UKflagshipNetwork of music radio stations including Virgin Radio UK, Virgin Radio Anthems, Virgin Radio Chilled, and Virgin Radio 80s, providing premium music content inventory
- Times RadioflagshipNews radio station providing quality journalism and current affairs content, enabling access to engaged news audiences
- Talk and talkRADIOcoreTalkTV and talkRADIO providing news and talk radio content, expanding Octave's reach into news and current affairs audiences
- The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)coreWSJ podcast portfolio including Barron's Live, WSJ Tech News Briefing, WSJ What's News, WSJ Your Money Briefing, and others, providing premium business and finance content
- The TimesflagshipUK publication providing data and content assets for audience targeting and access to premium news audiences
- Sky News RadiosupportingAustralian radio station expanding Octave's geographic reach in the Australian market
- Australian Radio Partners (FiveAA, Nova FM, Smooth FM, Star 104.5)supportingAustralian broadcast radio stations providing regional coverage in the Australian market including sports, pop, and contemporary formats
- Podcast Content PartnerscoreExtensive podcast network including Bad Bets, Serial, The Daily, The Why Files, F1 Beyond The Grid, No Such Thing as a Fish, How to Fail, and 7000+ other shows providing diverse content inventory
- News UK (Parent Company)flagshipParent company providing first-party data platform (Nucleus), trusted media brands, and content assets across news, sports, and entertainment
- Amazon (formerly Sizmek)supportingThird-party tracking pixel vendor for ad measurement and verification, providing 1x1 tracking pixel support
- DoubleClicksupportingGoogle's advertising platform integration supporting 1x1 tracking pixels and VAST 2.0 for video ad serving
- DoubleVerifysupportingBrand safety and ad fraud verification service providing 1x1 tracking pixel for ad quality assurance
- FlashtalkingsupportingCreative advertising technology platform providing 1x1 tracking pixel for ad verification and analytics
- IAS (Integral Ad Science)supportingBrand safety and ad verification platform supporting 1x1 tracking pixel or VAST 2.0 for viewability and fraud measurement
- SpotifysupportingAudio platform providing 1x1 tracking pixel support for campaign measurement and attribution
- PodscribesupportingPodcast-specific advertising technology platform providing 1x1 tracking pixel for podcast ad verification and targeting
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Octave Audio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US radio broadcaster and owner of Triton Digital, offering broadcast radio, podcast, digital audio advertising at massive scale. It is a broader incumbent in audio advertising with overlapping capabilities but at a vastly different scale and geography than Octave.
- Spotify Ad Studio: Spotify's self-serve ad platform enables brands to run audio and podcast advertising across Spotify's owned inventory at global scale. It is a broader incumbent competing with Octave for audio ad budgets, but operates within Spotify's walled garden rather than as an independent ad-tech intermediary.
- SoundCloud: SoundCloud is a global audio streaming platform that sells advertising on its owned audio inventory. While not a direct ad-tech peer, it competes with Octave for audio ad budgets by offering brands direct access to its streaming audience through its own ad products.
Direct peers
- Audioboom: Audioboom is a UK-based podcast hosting and advertising platform that monetises premium podcast content. It overlaps with Octave's podcast advertising business and serves similar brand advertisers seeking host-read sponsorships and programmatic placements.
- Triton Digital: Triton Digital is an audio ad-tech and streaming platform (owned by iHeartMedia) that provides programmatic audio advertising, measurement, and content delivery. It competes directly with Octave in delivering targeted audio campaigns with measurement and verification capabilities.
- AdsWizz: AdsWizz is an audio ad-tech platform (now owned by SiriusXM) providing programmatic audio advertising, DCO, and measurement. It directly competes with Octaveai in providing AI-driven audio ad creation, targeting, and campaign optimisation across radio, podcast, and digital audio.
- Acast: Acast is a global podcast hosting and monetization platform that sells podcast advertising and provides programmatic audio ad-tech. It is directly comparable to Octave as both operate in podcast/audio ad-tech, monetising third-party content inventory for advertisers, though Acast is larger and globally diversified.
- DAX (Global): DAX is the digital audio advertising exchange from Global Media, one of the UK's largest commercial radio broadcasters. It directly competes with Octave in the UK market, monetising premium radio and podcast inventory with first-party data and programmatic capabilities.
Regional players
- Bauer Media Audio UK: Bauer Media is a major UK radio broadcaster (Absolute Radio, Magic, Kiss, Hits Radio) with its own digital audio advertising sales. Comparable to Octave as a UK-focused commercial audio ad sales operation, though Bauer also operates the broadcast stations while Octave monetises partner inventory.
Emerging players
- A Million Ads (AMA): A Million Ads is a personalised audio ad-tech platform that powers Octave's DCO capability. It is an emerging player in dynamic creative optimisation for audio, with comparable technology focus but narrower scope than Octave's full audio-visual platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Octave Audio social profiles
Digital presenceOctave Audio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Octave Audio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Octave Audio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Octave Audio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Octave Audio
What does Octave Audio do?
Octave Audio sells cross-platform audio-visual advertising campaigns to enterprise brands and media agencies, leveraging News UK's first-party data (Nucleus) and premium content inventory from talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, The Times, Times Radio, and TalkTV. Its Octaveai platform adds AI-generated voices and Dynamic Creative Optimisation to create, scale, and refine audio ad variations in real time, supported by tracking and verification integrations with AMA, SayItNow, DoubleVerify, IAS, DoubleClick, Flashtalking, Spotify, and Podscribe.
Is Octave Audio a public or private company?
Octave Audio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Octave Audio founded?
Octave Audio was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Octave Audio based?
Octave Audio is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Octave Audio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Audio Advertising is the primary driver. The others are video & CTV Advertising, digital Display Advertising and branded Content.
Who are Octave Audio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are iHeartMedia, Spotify Ad Studio and SoundCloud. Direct peers are Audioboom, Triton Digital, AdsWizz, Acast and DAX (Global). Bauer Media Audio UK is listed as a regional player. A Million Ads (AMA) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Octave Audio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Octave Audio.
What industry is Octave Audio in?
Octave Audio's product category is Digital Audio-Visual Advertising. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIADAH, Ad Tech & Programmatic Audio Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAMAJAC, Music & Audio Streaming Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51229 and its SIC code is 7311.