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True Companions: The Power of TV and Film Podcasts

True Companions: The Power of TV and Film Podcasts

TV & Film has been a mainstay of podcasting since the beginning, and for good reason.

By Tom Webster

October 30, 2025

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More than half of Americans say they’d be interested in podcasts about their favorite TV shows and movies—that’s nearly as many people as currently consume podcasts at all. Yet only 19% are listening to TV and film podcasts today, which means we’re looking at one of the most significant growth opportunities in podcasting. This report, conducted in partnership with Owl & Company and fielded through Signal Hill Insights in August 2024, examines the audience for TV and film podcasts across 5,000+ representative Americans.

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You’ll discover how companion podcasts drive streaming subscriptions (16% have purchased one after hearing about a show), why these listeners are among podcasting’s most effective evangelists (79% recommend podcasts to others), and what the rise of smart TV consumption means for both podcasters and streaming platforms. Whether you’re a creator looking to tap into this category, a streaming service trying to reduce churn, or an advertiser seeking engaged audiences, this research provides the data you need to understand where TV, film, and podcasting intersect—and why that intersection matters more than most people realize.

The Podcast Landscape study was made possible with support from ESPN Podcasts, American Public Media, BetterHelp, SiriusXM Podcast Network, and NPR.