Podcasting network Blue Wire had a breakthrough year in 2019. The network saw its month-over-month listenership increase by 63% last year. Now, the company may be poised for another breakthrough as it adapts to life without games to comment on.
Blue Wire, a network of locally focused sports podcasts, attracted a $1.2 million seed investment last month. Rather than panic after almost immediately watching the format take a 10% hit in listenership, CEO Kevin Jones is having his hosts focus on telling stories instead of recapping games.
“The pause in sports has given us a stronger belief in narrative podcasting,” he told Pat Evans of Front Office Sports.
The Chase Down, Blue Wire’s Cleveland Cavaliers podcast, has started a seven-part series looking back at the franchise’s 2016 world championship. Jones says he is okay with his shows taking the time they need to create something that resonates better with listeners right now.
“Our time, energy, and resources are looking at narrative topics and companies that do those well, like Gimlet. We think consumption habits are changing, and we want to create binge-able content that listeners can unwrap like a Christmas present.”
