Robust Growth in Smart Speaker Ownership and Podcast Listening - Infinite Dial Canada 2019 Report Released

Somerville NJ, USA—Over one-quarter of Canadians 18+ now own a smart speaker, and 36% of Canadians 18+ are now weekly podcast listeners, according to The Infinite Dial 2019 Canada report, a comprehensive study of digital media behavior in Canada which debuted today at theCanadian Music Week Radio Summit in Toronto. Findings of the study were presented by Tom Webster, Senior Vice President from Edison Research, the leading provider of high-quality survey research about audio in the U.S. and worldwide, and Stephanie Donovan, SVP, Publisher Development North America at Triton Digital®, the global technology and services provider to the digital audio and podcast industry.

Webster and Donovan presented the latest information on media device ownership, radio, smart speakers, online audio, in-car audio, and podcasting among Canadians. Awareness of smart speakers overall (such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa) grew to 65% of the Canadian population age 18+, and the number of smart speaker owners who have two smart speakers in their home almost tripled, from 15% of owners last year to 43% in 2019. Podcasting also saw tremendous growth year-over-year, with 36% of the 18+ population having listened to a podcast in the last month, up from 28% in the 2018 survey.

This marks the second annual release of the study in Canada, and the continued expansion of the Infinite Dial, the longest-running survey of digital media consumer behavior in the U.S. The survey is a representative telephone survey of all Canadians age 18 and over, designed to be projectable to the nation’s population.

A free, live webinar revealing the full results of The Infinite Dial Canada 2019 will be presented on May 21st at 2:00pm ET.
To register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5310820781230086156

“The percentage of Canadians listening to podcasts has grown tremendously since 2018, mirroring what we have seen in the Infinite Dial U.S., and providing more evidence of a surge in spoken word programming,” noted Webster. “The increase in smart speaker owners who have two or more smart speakers in their home - from 15% last year to a staggering 43% in 2019 - is substantial, and certainly a huge contributor to the increase in overall internet-only audio listening across the region,” said Donovan.

The Infinite Dial Canada 2019 was conducted in the first quarter of 2019 and uses a nationally representative survey of 1,065 people. The sample is a random probability telephone sample, comprised of both mobile phones and landlines, of all Canadians age 18 and older. The data is weighted to 18+ population figures, and surveys were offered in both English and French.

About Edison Research

Edison Research conducts survey research and provides strategic information to a broad array of clients, including Activision, AMC Theatres, Disney, Dolby Laboratories, Google, Oracle, the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau, Pandora, Samsung, Siemens, Sony, The Gates Foundation, and Univision. Edison is the leading podcast research company in the world and has conducted research on the medium for NPR, Slate, ESPN, PodcastOne, WNYC Studios, and many more companies in the space. Another specialty for Edison is its work for media companies throughout the world, conducting research in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Edison is also the leading provider of consumer exit polling and has conducted face-to-face research in almost every imaginable venue. Since 2004, Edison Research has been the sole provider of Election Day data to the National Election Pool, conducting exit polls and collecting precinct vote returns to project and analyze results for every major presidential primary and general election.

About Triton Digital

Triton Digital® is the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry. Operating in more than 40 countries, Triton provides innovative technology that enables broadcasters, podcasters, and online music services to build their audience, maximize their revenue, and streamline their day-to-day operations. In addition, Triton powers the global online audio industry with Webcast Metrics®, the leading online audio measurement service. With unparalleled integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability, Triton remains committed to connecting audio, audience, and advertisers to continuously fuel the growth of the global online industry. Triton Digital is a wholly owned subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP). For more information, visit www.TritonDigital.com.