At Podcast Movement 2025 in Dallas, Texas, held Aug. 18–21, Edison Research revealed new findings showing that, in the United States, new podcast listeners are more likely to engage with video than audio-only programming.

Edison describes these new listeners as “First-Years,” those who have been listening to podcasts for less than a year. According to the company, 77% of First-Years say they watch video while listening to podcasts, compared to 75% who listen to audio-only shows. In contrast, long-term podcast fans — those with five or more years of experience, called “Longtimers” — are more likely to prefer audio-only consumption. However, Edison notes that the gap is closing.
Gabriel Soto, senior director at Edison Research, presented the results during the Dallas conference. The company says the findings highlight the growing importance of visual content for podcasters, warning that producers who ignore video risk missing both engagement and growth opportunities.
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