Last updated July 30, 2024 – 2:38 p.m.
Podcast agency Listen is focusing on TV ancillary programming and original podcasts, promoting executive Suzy Grant to head of visual podcasts.
Following the success of its premium video podcasts, including its first original podcast produced for linear TV, “The Traitors: Uncloaked,” the company is in discussions with broadcasters, streamers and publishers to create podcast formats built for linear TV, VOD, SVOD and social.
Grant has been driving Listen's video podcast growth thus far, and in January the company launched its first official companion podcast to The Traitors – Exec'd by Grant.
Hosted by comedian Ed Gamble, The Traitors: Uncloaked was filmed for television with an extended version available as audio only. This new interpretation of its TV sister show reached seven times the average audience for its BBC2 slot (an average of 2 million per episode), with the live podcast finale reaching a total of 4.4 million viewers.
The news comes as Listen announces that Suzie Grant will executive produce the second series of Olivia Atwood's chart-topping visual podcast, So Wrong It's Right, which has garnered over three million views/downloads across its first 15 episodes.
Distributed across audio, YouTube and daily short clips, the show is an example of ambitious entertainment podcasting that blurs the lines between podcasting and television, with one in three of the show's YouTube viewers choosing to watch on TV rather than mobile or desktop.
Since joining Listen in 2021, Grant has overseen the production of premium visualised formats including The Official Doctor Who Podcast and Sky Cinema's reality TV format Cinema Dates, as well as Love Island: The Morning After (starring Indya Pollack and Sam Thompson), India Laxen's 28ish Days Later and Child and Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders' Titting About.
Suzie Grant said: “The growth and impact of visual podcasts over the past 12 months has been exponential. Shows such as Uncloaked and So Wrong It's Right have created a space in our industry where high-quality programming can be delivered to audiences where they are.”
“I'm thrilled to take on this role and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of podcasting's traditional boundaries.”
Josh Addley, MD of Listen, added: “Over the past five years we've built a reputation as a pioneer in talent-led entertainment podcasts and this move recognises not only the enormous achievements Suzie has made, but also our ambition to be the first to pursue opportunities that break new ground.”
