Podcasting in 2026 is “beyond audio”

• Speaking at Radiodays Asia today, Ron Baetiong from Podcast Network Asia highlighted the difficulty of earning revenue from traditional podcasts in the region. 80-90% of media budgets are already allocated, he said; audio podcasts are among the many things fighting for the 10% left. “It’s hard to build a business when you’re begging for scraps”. Instead, he highlighted the opportunities beyond audio: YouTube videos, TikTok’s longform podcasts - which even for Philippines-specific shows gets six-figure viewing numbers - and clips; and focusing on integrated branded content rather than ad spots, which is easier to sell. He claims 10x audience figures and significantly higher revenues after refocusing on video.

  • Also speaking in the same session, Clive Dickens, the CEO of consultancy Meliora, spoke out in favour of premium AI personalities, of the type used by Inception Point AI and others. He suggested that we should stop talking about AI slop - pointing out that humans have been producing human slop for years, giving quiz shows as an example.

• In Japan, the #1 podcast, Coten Radio, contains no ads. The history show is paid-for by its listeners, with more than 10,000 listeners paying ¥1,000 (US $6) or more every month; plus around 100 companies who pay ¥50,000 (US $313) or more each month. Naoya Nishiyama from FUBI Inc spoke at Radiodays Asia earlier today; and also shared details of a podcast that the company makes with Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjirō, 小泉進次郎のポッドキャスト. The Q&A show is an hour long, but is also released as a series of clips for each answer: those clips reach so many more people that they’ve stopped driving people back to the full episode. “The clips are the show”, Nishiyama said.

  • Podcast Day Asia is tomorrow in Jakarta, Indonesia. The day will be hosted by our Editor.

• In the UK, a new creator monetisation platform, Everywhere, has launched. The company has been co-founded by Andy Goldsmith, Mike Wooller and Craig Eastwood, who have worked at Adelicious, Audioboom, DMG, and Global.

• Podtrac suggests that on YouTube, video podcasts are more engaging than other types of video. The data comes from a sample of over 84 million views, comparing the new “first-frame” view number and the engaged view number for each video.

• Blubrry has released support for HLS video for Apple Podcasts, including the alternate enclosure for apps like Pocket Casts and others, for all plans. (The company puts both HLS and the original video file in the alternate enclosure).

• Are you in Illinois? Apply to the LJJP Illinois Criminal Justice Reporting Fellowship and get paired with a seasoned reporter as a mentor; connect to a national network of justice reporters, and receive $5,000. You’ve until Sep 20 to apply.

• In Canada, CBC released its fall audio slate. Two CBC podcasts are to be broadcast on the radio - Alberta referendum podcast West of Centre and the US midterm election podcast Two Blocks from the White House.

• In Australia, there’s been a new call for shared, standardised data for media planning and the assessment of advertising effectiveness, according to the IAB, who’s Future of Measurement review was revealed today in Sydney. Specifically, the review found that cross-media audience measurement is the biggest unresolved gap.

• Parasocial, a new podcast app, launches today. Among the promised features - “lightning-fast episode recognition”, and shareable listening stats.

• Audacity v3.7.9 is out. It supports the new ffmpeg v9, though we don’t see any useful updates for podcasting in that. Audacity still has its, um, classic look; the new UX is a separate piece of ongoing work.

Tips and tricks - with Podcast Movement NYC

• Confused by Podcasting 2.0? Daniel J Lewis gave an introduction to the newer features at Podcast Movement last year.

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave: The Great James Bond Car Robbery from Spyscape takes us on an incredible true crime journey: the theft of the iconic Aston Martin DB5, with ejector seat and machine guns, driven by Sean Connery as 007 in Goldfinger - but stolen from a hanger in Florida Airport in June 1997.

Mission Rodeo was launched last month from The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Early episodes center on the Rodeo’s new one million-square-foot agricultural complex along Highway 288, from the vision behind the project and what it means for year-round programming, to how the organization’s 36,000 volunteers will help shape its future.

In History Hit this week, Dan Snow explains the Battle of Stamford Bridge: the dramatic story of the day that changed British history forever and paved the way for the Norman Invasion. It was the end of the Viking Age as Harold Hadrada and Harold Godwinson fought on the fields of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire - the English King taking the short-lived victory.

Acclaimed indie podcast network Radiotopia from PRX unveiled Light Box, a new podcast from composer Mark Henry Phillips exploring the impact of AI on artistic creation. A trailer is available now and the show debuts September 15. Phillips’ work has been previously heard on signature podcasts ranging from Serial to Passenger List.

In Senior PrimeTime, host Bonnie Keith welcomes Monica Smith, Certified Senior Advisor, and Angelica Lopez, Gerontologist, for an important conversation about adult children caring for aging parents. Discover how to recognize early warning signs, overcome resistance to help, prepare for emergencies, and approach difficult family conversations with compassion and confidence. Senior PrimeTime is presented by The Foundation for Senior Services.

Sick of the daily onslaught of news notifications, delivering nothing but bad and sad news? World, Interrupted goes beyond the headlines to ask what is actually happening and how Britain can navigate a world in turmoil. Zoe Swanwick sits down every week with the people shaping those choices — including politicians, journalists, historians and lawyers to unpack the UK’s approach to changing alliances, conflict and international law, and humanitarian action. Each episode asks not just what’s happening, but what Britain should do about it.

In System Hoppers this week, the show breaks from the usual Tabletop Game shenanigans to play Tacklebox - a game in which Mark and Jay play Robin and Parker - two friends that are fishing on a lake after their mutual friends all bailed. But something isn’t right…