MediaBay and OverDrive Partner to Distribute Classic Radio Programs

MediaBay, Inc., a leading digital media and publishing company specializing in spoken word and premium audio entertainment, has entered into a distribution agreement with OverDrive, a prominent provider of digital audio books and eBooks for libraries. Announced on May 25, 2005, this partnership will make MediaBay’s vast 50,000-hour collection of classic radio programs available to library patrons across the U.S. through OverDrive’s Digital Library Reserve service.

This agreement brings beloved radio classics like “The Jack Benny Show,” “The Shadow,” and “Abbott & Costello” into the digital age, accessible through OverDrive’s platform to nearly 1,000 libraries, including notable institutions like The New York Public Library, San Jose Public Library, and Cleveland Public Library. The programs span a range of genres, from comedy to mystery, detective, adventure, and suspense, capturing the essence of the Golden Age of Radio (1930s–1960s).

Jeffrey Dittus, CEO of MediaBay, expressed the company’s dedication to preserving American radio history, noting that this collaboration makes classic radio content easily accessible to a wider audience. Steve Potash, CEO of OverDrive, added that libraries are excited to offer these programs in a digital format, meeting a growing demand for convenient access to vintage radio entertainment.

MediaBay’s digital media library includes over 75,000 hours of content, featuring best-selling audio books and classic radio archives, with partnerships with notable publishers such as Simon & Schuster and Penguin Group. OverDrive, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, provides digital media solutions to retailers, wholesalers, and libraries, with prominent clients like the New York Public Library and strategic partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Adobe.