Slate, Others, Will Form Network To Exploit ‘Resurgent’ Podcast Interest

CHICAGO — Serial, the episodic non-fiction crime story in podcast form, has re-energized a medium many had thought flickered out before it ever really caught fire – and now web publishers are set to respond by forming a modern podcast network to capture th enew consumer enthusiasm.

“We’re seeing a resurgence – a renaissance, if you will – in podcasting,”  Slate publisher Anthony DeMaio tells Beet.TV in this video interview. “We’re going to be doubling down on podcasting, working with other like-minded brands and producing some type of podcast network.

“We think there’s a market for podcasting and there’s a business for it. It’s an initiate medium, it’s captivating. It requires a listener to use his or her imagination and follow along with the host; it’s a great advertising experience.”

DeMaio did not five further details of fellow network members or whether it would be a content or advertising partnership, but said  partners would include “high-brow thought-leader brands, similar to Slate, who have similar points of view”.

DeMaio was interviewed earlier this month at the Beet.TV video summit about video advertising outside of the pre-roll.  The event was presented by Teads, which DeMaio praised for helping Slate introduce video ads to its text story columns: “We would have left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table,” he said.