The BBC is expanding its video podcast strategy with a slate of new titles across BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and YouTube, as it looks to reach younger audiences and capitalise on the growing crossover between audio and visual podcast consumption.
The move follows internal audience research which found that three in five podcast fans have watched a podcast in the past week, with the majority saying they both watch and listen to podcast content.
New launches include Sort Your Life Out Unpacked with Dilly Carter, Race Across the World: The Detour with Scott Mills and Alfie Watts, and the return of Pop Top 10 with Scott Mills and Rylan Clark. The broadcaster is also launching YouTube channels for Uncanny with Danny Robins and Fame Under Fire with Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty.
The expanded offer builds on the performance of TV companion video podcasts such as The Traitors: Uncloaked and The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, which helped drive a record week for audio plays across the BBC’s digital platforms, reaching 11.8 million combined plays across BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer during their run between 6 October and 3 November.
Jonathan Kanagasooriam, managing editor for podcast strategy and video podcasts at BBC Sounds, said: “Video podcasts mean audio can drive impact across the BBC, in a must watch and listen slate. From brand extensions of hit TV shows and podcasts to innovative cross-platform formats that reach a new generation of listeners and viewers, we’re uniquely placed in the market to bring audio and video together. It’s all about continuing to innovate as the landscape evolves and doing what only the BBC can do.”
Beatrice Cooke, service executive for BBC iPlayer, added: “BBC iPlayer is the natural home for our biggest TV brands, and video podcasts let us take audiences even deeper into those worlds. They’re a powerful way to build fandom and bring new, younger audiences to the BBC.”
Sort Your Life Out Unpacked is a video podcast extension of the BBC television series presented by Dilly Carter. Each episode sees Carter joined by a celebrity guest who brings three mystery objects from their home, using them as the starting point for conversations about personal stories and organisation.
The factual entertainment brand Race Across the World is also expanding into video podcasting with Race Across the World: The Detour. Presented by former Celebrity Race Across the World winner Scott Mills alongside series four winner Alfie Watts, the podcast will follow the new series with weekly episodes featuring travel creators, comedians and celebrity fans discussing destinations, travel tips and stories from the show.
Meanwhile BBC Radio 2’s entertainment podcast Pop Top 10, hosted by Scott Mills and Rylan Clark, will return with episodes distributed across BBC Sounds, BBC iPlayer and, for the first time, the Radio 2 YouTube channel. The show sees the hosts debate and rank music and pop culture topics with guest contributors, with upcoming themes including Eurovision, 00s pop rock and 90s chart hits. The new run launches on 29 April.
Alongside the programme extensions, the BBC is also expanding its YouTube strategy with dedicated channels for established BBC Sounds titles. These include a new visualised format for paranormal podcast Uncanny, with Uncanny Cold Cases hosted by Danny Robins alongside experts Evelyn Hollow and Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe, examining historical hauntings and unexplained phenomena. Episodes will be available on the new Uncanny YouTube channel and BBC Sounds from 7 April.
A separate channel will host Fame Under Fire with Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, which examines major celebrity, political and cultural controversies. The show will feature Mutanda-Dougherty and expert guests analysing headline stories, misinformation and viral narratives surrounding high-profile public figures.
The YouTube expansion builds on the BBC’s earlier move to launch a dedicated channel for Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast, which focuses on the world of Sunday League football.
