By Holland Cooke
Consultant
My notes from a real useful session with Amazon’s Andy Slater, Audacy’s Michael Biemolt, and YouTube’s Neha Taleja, moderated by WTOP’S John Wardock.
Video trends:
- Internet Advertising Bureau: Digital video revenue is strong, +25.4% year-over-year.
- “It’s an accelerant” to podcasting. “Multi-modal engagement finds your audience where they are.”
- Adding video to audio work builds trust. When they see the-face-behind-the-voice, they know you more.
- “You’ve likely created the bulk of the content.” Adding video, “you’re repurposing.”
- Low cost of entry. “You have an iPhone, buy a tripod.”
- 233 million Americans have at least one smart TV, another distribution channel.
- To be smart TV-friendly: solid lighting, quality mic, upgrade camera, catchy graphics/colors, make-up.
- What makes someone click? Thumbnails!
- NOT doing video is “a lost opportunity.”
Podcasts:
- Podcast Time Spent Listening recently eclipsed Spoken Word radio TSL.
- 58% of Americans are monthly podcast consumers.
- “Audio + Video = podcasting in 2026.”
- Service used most for consumption: YouTube 39% — Spotify 20% — Apple Podcasts 11%
- “YouTube [#2 search tool, second only to owner Google] is a podcast discovery engine.”
- IAB: 2025 podcast revenue: $2.9 billion.
- “If you’re a radio station, you’re already in the audio business.”
- Cannibalizing radio listening? No. “Your audience wants to spend time with your talent. Make it more convenient.”
- “Podcasting was in ‘the training mode.’ Now it’s ready to run a marathon.”
AI trends:
- Check out new YouTube AI tools! Among features: A/B testing thumbnails.
- See also: OpusClip, Headliner, Descript, VivIQ, Riverside.
- AI apps can translate work to other languages.
- “Use it to save manhours. You have a very smart [virtual] intern.”
During Q+A, I asked: “You’ve given us some real useful ‘Do’s.’ What are the ‘Don’t’s?”
- “Nonauthentic content”
- “Anything forced, unnatural”
- “Not listening. Losing connection with your audience.”
- “Be careful with sports betting content, which dates quickly, short shelf life.”
If you missed any of this week’s NAB Show updates, click here.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn