Goalhanger, the British podcast company behind popular shows including The Rest is Football, has made a strategic hire to accelerate its push into television and film. Tom Miceli, formerly of talent agency WME, has joined the company in a newly created role focused on developing its intellectual property for screen. The move signals that Goalhanger is increasingly positioning itself as a multi-platform media business rather than a podcast-only operation.
- 1Tom Miceli joins Goalhanger from WME in the newly created role of head of IP development
- 2Goalhanger produces The Rest is Football, which has already been adapted as a Netflix show covering the World Cup
- 3The hire is designed to accelerate Goalhanger's growth in television and film
- 4Goalhanger is one of the UK's most prominent independent podcast companies, with a catalogue spanning sport, history, and current affairs
Goalhanger's Growing Screen Ambitions
Goalhanger has built a formidable reputation in the audio world, producing some of the United Kingdom's most-listened-to podcasts across categories including sport, politics, and history. The company has attracted major presenting talent and cultivated loyal audiences, giving it a library of recognisable brands that translate naturally into potential screen properties. With that foundation in place, the logical next step for a media company of its scale is to look beyond headphones and into living rooms.
The adaptation of The Rest is Football for Netflix is a clear proof of concept for that strategy. The show, which brings together recognisable football personalities for relaxed, conversational coverage, demonstrated that Goalhanger's format and talent relationships could hold their own in the competitive streaming landscape. Securing a deal with Netflix, the world's largest subscription streaming platform, lends the company significant credibility as it courts further on-screen opportunities.
Who Is Tom Miceli and What Does He Bring?
Tom Miceli arrives at Goalhanger from WME, one of the most powerful talent and entertainment agencies in the world. Working inside a major agency equips executives with a broad understanding of how intellectual property is packaged, pitched, and sold to studios, broadcasters, and streaming platforms. That kind of commercial and creative network is precisely what a company like Goalhanger needs as it attempts to navigate an industry it has not historically operated in at scale.
The decision to create a brand-new role for Miceli rather than slotting him into an existing structure suggests that Goalhanger's leadership is treating screen expansion as a distinct business priority, not a side project. A dedicated head of IP development can focus exclusively on identifying which podcast formats, talent relationships, and story ideas are best suited for adaptation, and then shepherd those projects through the development process. It is a hire that reflects both ambition and a degree of strategic seriousness.
The Broader Podcast-to-Screen Trend
Goalhanger's move is part of a wider shift in the media industry, where successful podcast brands are increasingly being viewed as valuable raw material for television and film. Podcasts with established audiences offer something studios and streamers find attractive: built-in demand and a proven concept. Rather than greenlighting entirely untested ideas, platforms can point to download figures and listener loyalty as early evidence that a format or story will resonate with viewers.
This trend has been visible across the industry for several years, with documentary series, drama adaptations, and live event formats all drawing on podcast origins. For companies like Goalhanger, the opportunity is significant, but so is the challenge. Audio and visual storytelling are different crafts, and not every podcast translates cleanly to screen. Hiring someone with deep experience in IP development and industry relationships is one way to make sure the transition is managed thoughtfully rather than opportunistically.
Why it matters
For listeners and media watchers alike, this hire signals that Goalhanger intends to become a major multi-platform content company, not just a podcast producer. As more audio brands seek screen deals, the companies that invest early in dedicated development infrastructure are likely to move faster and strike better partnerships. Goalhanger's moves could reshape expectations for what independent podcast companies can achieve.
Common questions
What is Goalhanger and what podcasts does it produce?
Goalhanger is a British independent podcast company known for producing popular shows across sport, history, and current affairs. Its titles include The Rest is Football, a widely followed football discussion podcast featuring high-profile presenting talent. The company has grown into one of the UK's most prominent audio brands.
What will Tom Miceli actually do in his new role at Goalhanger?
As head of IP development, Miceli is expected to identify which of Goalhanger's podcast properties and formats have potential for television and film adaptation, and then manage the process of bringing those projects to screen. The role is newly created, reflecting how seriously Goalhanger is treating its on-screen ambitions. His background at WME gives him the industry contacts and deal-making experience to pursue those opportunities effectively.
What to take away
- Watch for New Adaptations
With a dedicated executive now focused on screen development, Goalhanger listeners should expect to see more of the company's podcast catalogue explored for television and film in the coming years.
- Streaming Competition Intensifies
Platforms competing for quality content will increasingly find themselves in conversation with audio companies like Goalhanger, making podcast IP an ever more contested resource in the streaming wars.
- Podcast Brands Gaining Power
Fans of podcast-first media should recognise that the companies behind their favourite shows are gaining real leverage in Hollywood-style negotiations, which could mean bigger, better-resourced productions in future.
