One in three listen to TV podcasts to maintain interest between seasons.
Podcasts help viewers discover new TV shows, according to a recent study, with around half reporting that they have found new content to watch via hearing about it on podcasts.
The report, conducted by Hub Entertainment Research based on a survey of 2,500 US consumers, showed that 47% of podcast listeners between the ages of 16 and 74 have discovered new shows through podcasting, rising to 57% among young adults.
32% of all those surveyed reported that they listen to podcasts related to TV series - including official companion shows, fan-created podcasts, or podcasts featuring the stars or creators of a show. Younger listeners also over-index in this regard, rising to 50% for those between 16 and 34.
Of listeners across all age groups who consume TV-related podcasts, 92% said they help maintain their interest in a current show between seasons, while 85% of those who listen to podcasts about older series say they create an interest in searching out and watching older shows.
“In the current world of short seasons of eight to 10 episodes, podcasts – whether official or fan-created – can provide a valuable means for TV series to maintain viewer interest,” said David Tice, senior consultant to Hub and co-author of the study. “This is particularly important when so much content is available to a viewer, a favorite series 10 months ago could become a forgotten one by today.”
Companion podcasts have been a popular trend in recent years, with the likes of The Always Sunny Podcast, Full House Rewind and The Official Doctor Who Podcast all seeking to build on the established fanbases of their respective shows.
The report also highlighted the value of adapting new shows from existing podcasts, with 50% of all podcast listeners saying that they would be more interested in watching a new TV show if it was based on one of their favourite podcasts.
Podcasts have proven to be rich ground for TV networks and streamers seeking new IP, with shows including Wondery’s Dr. Death and Dirty John, Global’s Filthy Ritual and iHeart’s The Girlfriends (both produced by Novel) all adapted or optioned for TV versions.
Source: podpod.com
