[1] Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, who had both previously worked for BBC News, announced in February 2022 that they would be leaving to join Global Media & Entertainment.

Hosted by Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall, The News Agents presented itself as an alternative to mainstream media outlets, such as the BBC.

[4] [5] In her 2022 MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival, Maitlis spoke of what she believed to be a threat posed to journalism by populist politicians, and suggested that The News Agents might counter this.

[10] In January 2023, the podcast obtained a leaked letter from Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in which she recommended the government reverse its plans to privatise Channel 4.

[15] On 7 February 2024, Global announced plans to launch The Sports Agents, presented by Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, which would be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the spring.

James Marriott of The Times described it as "slick but a little baffling" with "tantalising glimpses of the much better show" that would emerge from the "beautiful, uber-professional moving parts that are welded together so oddly in this first episode".

[21] Mark Lawson of The Guardian suggested the edition "most resembled the post-show Newsnight green room cool-down, with presenters and contributors speaking slightly more loosely", and that it was "bold of Global" to launch the podcast, but concluded "It remains to be seen, though, if the best use is being made of these latest big-money signings".