CNN Audio is no more. But the company isn’t going away from its audio projects. It’s simply rebranding to CNN Podcasts.
After following the trend of other companies changing their division names away from “radio” to “audio”, CNN now says that it is doubling down on the podcast genre.
“These are self-contained shows that you listen to on a device, such as your phone,” CNN Podcasts head Steve Lickteig told The Hollywood Reporter. “Audio can mean so many things, but what we’re trying to show is that podcasts are what they originally were, video notwithstanding.”
The network plans to utilize its vast stable of reporters and journalists that “don’t necessarily have a television show but are doing incredible work,” Lickteig says, to build out its podcast division.
“We’re going to showcase narrative stories and journalism, audio-first, from various reporters over a year,” he added.
CNN is also going to explore more video podcasts, but isn’t committing to turn all of its offerings into shows that will air on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, or the upcoming standalone streaming service the network plans to launch.
Currently, the network features a plethora of podcasts hosted by talents like Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as well as Clare Duffy, David Axelrod, and Audie Cornish, among others.
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