The podcast format was created in the 2000s for the audio format. The word is a combination of the terms iPod and broadcasting. And if it has gained popularity, it is because it is a form of entertainment that can be combined with other activities, such as going to the gym, walking or cooking, being given that you can listen to a podcast and do something else at the same time.
But today things are different, since, as several data sources reveal, people love to “watch” podcasts, in 2024. According to a study carried out by Edison Research, YouTube is now the podcast application preferred by Americans, ahead of Spotify and Apple Podcasts. “A few years ago, YouTube might have seemed like an unlikely platform for podcasts. But as the world of podcasting evolves, many podcasters have adopted video podcasting, recording their shows in both audio and video formats.we read in the Edison Research publication.
And recently, Google revealed that podcast audiences on YouTube’s TV app are growing sharply. Currently, YouTube users watch 400 million hours of podcasts per month on their televisions. And it’s not just happening on YouTube. In the month of November, Spotify reported that more than 250 million users have watched a video podcast on the platform and that “nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video.”. In essence, habits have clearly changed!
What are the benefits of watching a podcast?
The advantage of podcasts with video is that, when you have time, you can have visual information in addition to audio. Besides that, even when the podcast does not include illustrations, the video still allows you to have more information, thanks to facial expressions and body language.
“When someone speaks on camera, we can see their facial expressions and body language. This can help create a more personal connection than audio alone. This also explains why vlogs have become a viable content format in recent years.explains the company Riverside, which provides audio solutions for creators, in a blog post.
For its part, YouTube suggests that video also allows podcasts to compete with TV shows. “They listen to podcasts like you listen to a late-night talk show”explains Google. This would also explain the success of podcasts on the YouTube TV application.
In any case, video can benefit creators, since this format, for example on YouTube, allows them to access new means of monetization.
