The Davey Awards, in partnership with The Podglomerate, has produced and released Video Podcasting Decoded: A Guide for Small Shows. A 17-page report deck argues that video has become ubiquitous in the podcast space, ans seeks to answer key questions:
- Is video podcasting a passing trend, or is it here to stay?
- For smaller shows and indie creators, is it worth the time and effort?
- Does video help tell a stronger story?
For answers, these two companies surveyed the Academy of Interactive Visual Arts (AIVA) to plumb that group’s expertise.
The Data
The survey portion of this release, in a section titled “Why go visual?,” explores whether video is an existential moment for the podcast industry. A survey question on this topic resulted in mixed responses from participants. Over 80% consume audio-only episodes (not necessarily exclusively). At the same time, about 50% consume full video episodes (again, not necessarily exclusively).
Click or tap the image for the full report
Interestingly, the survey reveals that 25% of respondents who consume video podcasts do so with the video in the background. Fifteen percent acknowledge glancing at the video for key moments.
Thirty-six percent of all respondents take their podcasts on YouTube. Instagram and TikTok are acknowledged with small percentages, and there is this interesting side note:
“Instagram and Tik Tok have turned several generations into fans of 30-second clips.”
The clips phenomenon crosses generations impressively:
Beyond browsing, what drives consumers to subscribe to a podcast? Is it quality of content? Access to video? An engaging host? Exclusive content?
Well, all of those to some extent. But the top answer to this question was: Ad-free Episodes:
The Tutorial
The remainder of this presentation is a teaching. Starting with the basics, we learn about basic equipment needed to get started with video podcasting, from recording through editing.
An explainer teaches newcomers about two types of video podcast: Video-first, and hybrid. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Importantly, this tutorial advocates for AI, and reports that 65% of survey respondents use AI tools somewhere in their video production. Editing and captioning, voice cleanup and the three main applications.
There is much more beyond our sketched review, including quoted perspectives from experts at ad agencies, communications firms, and production houses. Free download of the entire deck is HERE.
