NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES — September 11, 2026 — IPVanish, a premium virtual private network (VPN) provider owned by Ziff Davis, and Blue Wire, a network of more than 250 independent sports podcasts, announced today results from a podcast advertising campaign finding that ads generated by AI replicas of podcast hosts’ voices outperformed human announcer read-ads by 26%.
To measure performance using net-new paid subscriptions as the key metric, the campaign tested a single IPVanish VPN offer using an identical script across three distinct ad formats: traditional human host-reads, outsourced announcer-reads, and AI host-reads. Powered by AdBridge’s Trusted Voices technology and activated via Audiohook, the results further found that only a 9% gap existed between creator-approved AI replicas of Blue Wire podcast hosts, and the human host-read ads.
The results point to a potential new role for AI-generated host-read advertising in podcast media plans: giving advertisers access to host-read-style performance across larger volumes of podcast inventory without the same operational requirements and price premium associated with traditional host-read campaigns.
Traditional host-read advertising carries a premium and requires coordination among advertisers, networks and hosts, including approvals, airchecks, copy changes and longer lead times. As a result, direct host-read campaigns tend to concentrate on larger shows, while advertisers seeking broader run-of-network scale often turn to lower-cost announcer-read or programmatic formats.
AdBridge’s Trusted Voices technology enables participating creators to license and approve AI replicas of their voices for commercial advertising. Each participating Blue Wire creator opted in to the program and reviewed the final audio before it aired.
For publishers and podcast networks, the model is intended to extend host-read-style demand to mid- and long-tail inventory that may not attract traditional direct host-read campaigns. The campaign was offered as a packaged media solution alongside, rather than as a replacement for, traditional host-read advertising.
The campaign also tested the listener response to AI-generated host-read advertising. Across participating shows and millions of downloads, there were no listener complaints or negative feedback reported during the campaign. The campaign followed the IAB’s Transparency and Disclosure Framework for AI in advertising.
“Host-read performance no longer has to be reserved for the biggest shows or the biggest budgets. The campaign showed a meaningful performance gap between announcer reads and host-read advertising, and that AI can substantially close that gap while operating at scale.”
James O’Connor, Founder and CEO of AdBridge.ai
“We measure audio on real business outcomes, and the signal here was clear. Putting the same approved message in a trusted host’s voice, even an AI-generated one, meaningfully outperformed standard announcer reads on subscriptions. For us, that represents a more efficient way to get more out of the same budget.”
Jordan Bentley, Founder and CEO of Audiohook
“Our creators opted in because this gives them control and new earning potential. The performance proved out, the approval process was simple, and listeners didn’t miss a beat.”
Andrew Rotondi, Chief Operating Officer of Blue Wire
“When I first heard about AI ads, I went into the campaign with some reservations about how everything would work. I came away surprised at how seamless the process was and impressed with the overall outcome. Blue Wire and AdBridge made the process incredibly easy, and approving ads was as simple as you could possibly imagine.”
Andy Herman, Host of Pack-A-Day: Your Daily Packers Podcast
Listen here for side by side examples of hosts and their voice replicas performing AI generated ad reads →
Read the Case Study on Blue Wire Podcasts →
For media, a non-gated copy of the case study is available in the press kit and is available for use where gated content represents a policy violation.
About IPVanish
IPVanish is a U.S.-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider owned by Ziff Davis, featuring unlimited device connections, more than 3,200 servers in 150 global locations, and a verified no-logs policy. Founded in 2012, it encrypts web traffic and shields IP addresses across major platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Fire TV. Learn more at www.ipvanish.com.
About Blue Wire
Blue Wire is a network of independent sports content creators comprising more than 250 shows, from 4th & 1 and Funky Friday with Cam Newton to the 89 Show with Steve Smith Sr. and the Wy Network with Dwyane Wade, alongside local influencers covering dozens of teams, leagues and niches. Learn more at www.bluewirepods.com.
About Audiohook
Audiohook is a technology company built for measurable growth across digital audio and podcasts. Audiohook enables brands to reach consumers across streaming audio, digital radio, and podcasts while paying only for conversions, not downloads or impressions. With advanced audience and contextual targeting, brand suitability controls, and integrated attribution and measurement, Audiohook combines the scale of digital audio with a performance model built around real business outcomes. Learn more at www.audiohook.com.
About AdBridge.ai
AdBridge.ai is an advertising technology firm that works with podcast networks to package audio inventory based on creators’ AI-enabled voice replicas through its Trusted Voices technology, giving brands a way to scale high-performing audio across the mid- to long-tail of podcasts. Learn more at www.adbridge.ai.
Media Contact
James O’Connor, Founder
contact@adbridge.ai
203.722.0081
View Media Kit →
https://www.adbridge.ai/press/ipvanish-bluewire-drive-26-more-subscriptions-than-announcer-reads-with-ai-host-reads/media-kit
Listen here for side by side examples of hosts and their voice replicas performing AI generated ad reads →
https://www.adbridge.ai/ipvanish-case-study
Read the Case Study on Blue Wire Podcasts → (For media, a non-gated copy of the case study is available in the press kit and is available for use where gated content represents a policy violation.)
https://www.bluewirepods.com/case-study/ipvanish-drives-a-26-performance-lift-with-blue-wire-using-ai-host-read-ads
