Industry Turbulence and New Opportunities

In major broadcasting news, the BBC has been rocked by high-level resignations. Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness have stepped down following allegations of bias published by The Telegraph. One specific claim involves the flagship Panorama program, which allegedly misleadingly edited a Donald Trump speech to appear as if he was encouraging the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot. The BBC, one of the UK’s largest podcast producers with 154 million monthly downloads, had previously launched its BBC Verify service in 2023 to combat disinformation.

For creative writers, a new resource has emerged. The Audio Dramatists Resource Guide 2026-2027 has been published, connecting audio dramatists with production companies actively seeking scripts, along with development opportunities, contests, and fellowships across the US, UK, Canada, and beyond.

Platform Updates and Creator Challenges

Streaming giant Netflix is making a significant move into the audio space. According to Bloomberg’s Screentime, the platform is looking to commission its own “video podcasts” and is considering interface changes to better highlight this content. In a curious twist, the deals Netflix is offering are reportedly just one year long.

A sobering insight for marketers comes from Chris Stone, who revealed that his employer, the New Statesman, had its best-ever week with over a million social video views, yet this success had “zero impact” on their podcast listens. The finding raises questions about the direct value of social video clips for podcast audience growth, though Stone suggests it remains a useful tool for broader brand building.

On the technical side, the podcast app Metacast has added a Continue Listening playlist and enabled transcript export. However, a notable drawback has been highlighted for premium content: paid, ad-free podcast episodes on the Apple Podcasts app do not get separate chapters, a feature omission that one critic noted “literally makes the paid version of a show worse.”

Public Scrutiny and In-Flight Disappointment

The City of Winnipeg is facing criticism for its publicly funded podcast, Our City, Our Podcast. The Winnipeg Sun reports the show allegedly cost $35,000, mostly in employee salaries. Critics have judged its success based on YouTube views, which were often under 100 per episode, though actual podcast download numbers remain undisclosed.

In a tale of modern travel disappointment, a Podnews reader reported the letdown of discovering that Spotify’s video podcasts, while advertised as available on United’s in-flight entertainment screens, were in fact nowhere to be found after he settled in for his flight.

New Shows Making Waves

The podcast landscape continues to evolve with compelling new narratives:

Allison after NXIVM

This series promises to tell the untold story of Allison Mack, the former Smallville actress and high-ranking NXIVM member, with exclusive access following her release from prison.

Broken Ground

A powerful new season explores the connection between the legacy of slavery and today’s environmental injustices, tracing a path from remote turpentine camps to Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley.’

Outlaws Podcast: Embracing Career Freedom

Returning for a second season, this podcast features unfiltered conversations about work, purpose, and breaking free from burnout, with guests like UK lawyer and TEDx speaker Henry Nelson Case.

Source: Adapted from the original reporting by Podnews.