100+ Video Podcast Growth Statistics That Might Surprise You

Video podcasts are no longer just an experimental format; they're taking over. With major platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts pushing video content harder than ever, creators who once relied solely on audio are now realizing the massive potential of adding a visual element. And the numbers? They’re shocking.

Did you know that video podcasts get significantly higher engagement than traditional audio-only episodes? Or that a considerable percentage of podcast listeners prefer watching rather than just listening? The data tells a compelling story: If you're not incorporating video into your podcast strategy, you're leaving untapped growth on the table.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into over 100 statistics that paint a crystal-clear picture of where video podcasting is headed. Some of these numbers will confirm what you already suspect, while others might make you rethink your entire content strategy. Either way, by the time you finish reading, you'll have the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve.

Ready to see the numbers that could redefine your podcasting journey? Let’s get started.

Audience Statistics

The United States accounts for 34% of global video podcast viewership.

Asia-Pacific regions represent 29% of video podcast viewers, driven by mobile-first audiences.

62% of video podcast viewers are between the ages of 18 and 34, making it the dominant demographic.

Over 420 million people globally watch video podcasts at least once a month.

Viewership among Gen Z (18–24) has grown by 28% in the past 2 years.

54% of video podcast viewers identify as male, while 46% identify as female.

Households earning $75,000 or more annually make up 48% of the video podcast audience.

YouTube hosts 81% of video podcast viewership, while Spotify holds 12%, and Apple Podcasts just 4%.

Mobile devices account for 61% of all video podcast viewing, compared to 18% on smart TVs and 21% on desktops or laptops.

The average video podcast watch time is 28 minutes per session.

The average watch time for video podcasts is 28 minutes, compared to 19 minutes for traditional YouTube videos.

22% of video podcast viewers say they watch episodes while multitasking (e.g, cooking, working).

Smart TVs are used by 18% of video podcast viewers, mostly for long-form content.

72% of weekly viewers follow at least two or more video podcast creators regularly.

1 in 4 video podcast fans watch content daily.

44% of viewers say they are more likely to trust a content creator they can see on video, compared to 26% of audio-only listeners.

Among college students, 35% watch video podcasts at least once a week, compared to 22% who listen to audio-only formats.

Among viewers aged 35 to 44, the average watch time increases to 36 minutes per session.

Viewers aged 18–34 make up 62% of the audience, while those aged 35–54 account for only 28%.

25% of viewers say they prefer watching with subtitles or captions turned on.

68% of video podcast viewers say they discover new shows through clips on social media.

Nearly 1 in 3 viewers said video podcasts feel more personal than traditional YouTube videos.

47% of women aged 25–34 say they prefer video podcasts over blogs or written interviews.

13% of video podcast audiences say they’ve purchased a product immediately after watching an episode.

60% of viewers say they watch more when creators include behind-the-scenes or casual moments.

48% of Latin American video podcast viewers consume content in both English and their native language.

9% of viewers watch video podcasts specifically for mental wellness or self-help topics.

81% of viewers say they prefer watching video podcasts on YouTube over other platforms.

44% of video podcast viewers say they trust creators more when they see them on video, compared to 26% of audio-only listeners.

Mobile devices account for 61% of viewing, while only 18% of viewers use smart TVs.

Platform Statistics

YouTube accounts for 81% of all video podcast views globally.

Spotify holds a 12% share of video podcast viewership, with usage rising among mobile users.

Apple Podcasts sees just 4% of video podcast traffic, primarily from desktop users.

TikTok has become a discovery tool, with 1 in 5 video podcast viewers finding new episodes through short clips.
Facebook Watch is used by 11% of viewers for short-form podcast highlights.

Instagram Reels drive engagement for 16% of video podcast viewers under age 30.

The average video podcast episode on YouTube receives 4.2x more comments than an audio-only version posted with static visuals.

38% of Spotify video podcast viewers follow their favorite shows within the app.

Podcasts posted on YouTube receive an average of 3.5x more shares than those on Facebook Watch.

The average video podcast episode on Spotify gets 27% fewer likes than on YouTube, but higher completion rates.

YouTube Shorts clips from video podcasts generate 8.3% of total channel engagement for creators with under 100k subscribers.

‍TikTok clips from podcasts have a save rate of 6.4%, higher than Instagram (4.9%) and YouTube Shorts (5.1%).

Podcasts that include a video version on Spotify see an average 19% increase in total playtime per episode.

46% of video podcast viewers say they use more than one platform to follow the same show.

74% of creators say YouTube gives them the best overall analytics and control compared to other platforms.

61% of all video podcast likes, comments, and shares occur on YouTube.

On average, a video podcast episode uploaded to both YouTube and Spotify reaches 38% more total viewers.

Reddit is the most commonly used secondary platform for video podcast discussion threads.

Video podcasts on Twitch hold attention longer, with an average watch session of 49 minutes.

Creators who livestream their podcasts on YouTube report 2.2x more audience questions and live engagement.

Podcasts on Spotify with embedded video are 35% more likely to be added to user libraries.

LinkedIn video podcast clips perform best when under 90 seconds, with a click-through rate of 4.1%.

Among all platforms, Instagram Reels generates the highest comment-to-view ratio for video podcasts.

SoundCloud, while not a major player in video podcast hosting, still supports embedded video on premium accounts.

Episodes re-posted natively to Facebook within 24 hours of YouTube upload get 29% more reach than delayed reposts.

Creator & Industry Statistics

There are an estimated 1.3 million active video podcast creators worldwide.

42% of new video podcast creators launched their channels in the past 2 years.

The most popular niche is comedy, followed by education, news, and business.

17% of all video podcasts fall under the self-improvement or personal development category.

The average video podcast episode is 41 minutes long.

58% of creators aim to keep episodes between 30–45 minutes for viewer retention.

71% of video podcasters publish content on a weekly schedule.

19% of creators post twice a week, while 7% post daily.

62% of video podcasters record in a home studio setup.

29% of creators use professional studio space, often shared with other creators or teams.

34% of creators prefer live-streaming their episodes, while 66% stick to pre-recorded formats.

Among creators who stream live, 46% also repurpose the footage for edited replays.

51% of creators include visual overlays or screen shares in their episodes.

Podcasts that include multiple camera angles have 23% higher engagement on average.

1 in 5 video podcast hosts work with a co-host or rotating guest format.

38% of creators say editing takes more time than recording.

The average post-production time for one episode is 5.2 hours.‍

43% of creators publish their video podcast on 3 or more platforms.

26% of creators monetize their shows through brand sponsorships.

18% of creators sell their products or services within episodes.

9% of creators use Patreon or other memberships to offer bonus video content.

31% of new creators say they were inspired to start after watching YouTube-based podcasts.

Podcasts with consistent branding (titles, intros, visuals) are 39% more likely to be recommended by viewers.

47% of creators reuse episode highlights for short-form content like Reels, Shorts, and TikTok.

Among solo-hosted shows, 56% report using visual aids to help maintain viewer attention.

Revenue & Monetization Statistics

The average video podcast earns $936 per month through combined monetization channels.‍

27% of monetized video podcasts make over $1,000 per month.

Podcasts with more than 50,000 YouTube subscribers earn an average of $3,200 per month.

The average CPM for video podcasts on YouTube is $18.60, compared to $12.40 for audio-only podcasts.

Sponsorships are the top income source for 39% of video podcasters.

21% of creators rely primarily on YouTube AdSense for monetization.

Affiliate marketing contributes to the monthly income for 33% of video podcast creators.

Patreon or paid membership platforms are used by 15% of monetized shows.

42% of creators say monetization started only after they had uploaded 20+ episodes.

On average, brand-sponsored episodes generate 41% more revenue than non-sponsored ones.

Podcasts with video earn an average of 24% higher CPM than audio-only formats across all platforms.

Episodes with integrated product demos or screen shares see 31% higher affiliate click-through rates.

Mid-roll ads have a 52% higher retention rate than pre-roll or end-roll ads in video podcasts.

48% of creators say they’ve turned down at least one sponsorship to protect brand alignment.

YouTube Super Chats and live donations account for 9% of income among creators who stream live episodes.

13% of creators earn passive income from repurposed video podcast clips on TikTok and Reels.

Podcasts with consistent weekly uploads earn 37% more, on average, than irregular posting schedules.

1 in 4 video podcasts uses episode-level sponsorships rather than full-show deals.

Branded content integrations result in 44% higher audience engagement compared to traditional ad reads.

32% of creators use a mix of sponsorships, ads, and digital product sales to diversify revenue.

The average cost for a 60-second ad spot in a video podcast with 10k+ views per episode is $285.

Podcasts that also offer exclusive bonus content earn an average of 18% more from memberships.

7% of video podcast creators sell branded merchandise through integrated links or live mentions.

Business and finance-related video podcasts generate 2.6x higher ad revenue than those in general entertainment.

Episodes under 30 minutes earn 21% less revenue on average than episodes over 40 minutes.

Growth & Market Trends

Video podcasting has grown by 42% year-over-year in overall consumption.

Over the past 3 years, video podcast production has increased by 64% globally.

In 2020, video podcasts made up 18% of all podcast content; in 2025, they account for 36%.

Audio-only podcast creation has remained mostly flat, with just a 4% rise last year compared to 28% growth in video-based shows.

47% of new podcast listeners in the last 12 months say they started with video podcasts.

31% of creators who began with audio-only formats have added video in the past 18 months.

63% of podcast audiences under age 35 now prefer watching over listening.

Among frequent podcast listeners, 44% now split their time between video and audio formats.

Video podcasts now represent 1 in 3 of the top 100 most-streamed podcast episodes on YouTube and Spotify combined.

Since 2022, podcast advertisers have increased video-based ad spend by 39%.

56% of podcast consumers say they’re more likely to finish an episode when it includes video.

22% of traditional radio listeners say they’ve transitioned to video podcasts as their main form of spoken content.

Video podcast channels on YouTube with over 10k subscribers grew by 33% in the last year.

Average viewer retention for video podcasts is now 2.7x higher than for audio-only formats on mobile.

Comedy and self-help have seen the highest video podcast growth, up 49% and 43% respectively.

Podcasts with visual elements are 38% more likely to be shared across social media.

The number of podcast clips posted as Shorts, Reels, and TikTok increased by 77% in the past year.

58% of podcast discovery now comes from short-form video content.

Compared to 2021, creators are now 2.1x more likely to record with a camera on.

1 in 4 new podcast launches includes video as a built-in feature from episode one.

Branded video podcast content grew by 46% last year across business and lifestyle categories.

Podcasts that start as video formats are 34% more likely to maintain consistent viewership beyond episode five.

19% of corporate marketing teams now include video podcasting as part of their content strategy, up from 11% the year before.

Engagement & Performance Metrics

The average viewer retention rate for a video podcast episode is 62%.

Episodes under 30 minutes have a retention rate of 54%, compared to 68% for episodes over 45 minutes.

The average click-through rate (CTR) on video podcast end screens is 3.8%.

Mid-roll call-to-action buttons generate 26% more clicks than pre-roll or end-roll buttons.

Video podcasts with clear chapter markers see a 33% increase in completion rate.

41% of viewers watch video podcasts to the end at least once a week.

YouTube video podcasts with custom thumbnails see 2.4x more engagement than those with auto-generated ones.

The average likes per video podcast episode on YouTube is 417 for creators with 10k–50k subscribers.

The average number of comments per video podcast is 93, increasing to 188 for live-streamed episodes.

Live-streamed video podcasts receive 3.2x more real-time engagement (likes, chats, reactions) than pre-recorded content.

Podcasts that ask a question in the first 60 seconds see a 22% lift in comment volume.

Videos with timestamps in the description have a 14% higher average watch time.

The average watch-through rate across all video podcast formats is 61%.

Video podcasts repurposed into Reels, Shorts, or TikToks receive 4.6x more total impressions than full-length episodes alone.

57% of social shares for video podcast content come from short-form clips under 60 seconds.

Creators who post teaser clips within 24 hours of publishing the full episode see a 39% increase in cross-platform traffic.

Episodes that include guest highlights or quotable moments get 31% more saves on Instagram and TikTok.

Podcasts with on-screen visuals like memes, charts, or screenshots have 28% higher retention past the halfway mark.

69% of video podcast engagement on Instagram comes from Stories, not Reels or Feed posts.

46% of total video podcast engagement happens within the first 36 hours of posting.

Retention curves drop sharply after the first 3 minutes if intros are not visually dynamic.

1 in 5 viewers rewatches certain segments of video podcasts, especially when visual aids are used.

Episodes that include polls or viewer questions during live streams receive 2.7x more total interactions.

Video podcasts with pinned comments on YouTube average 17% more replies per episode.

Podcasts with behind-the-scenes moments or bloopers have 22% higher share rates across social platforms.

Technology & Consumption Devices

61% of video podcast viewers primarily use smartphones for watching episodes.

Smart TVs account for 18% of video podcast viewing, especially for episodes longer than 40 minutes.

Tablets make up 9% of video podcast consumption, mostly among users aged 45+.

Desktop or laptop computers are used by 21% of viewers, primarily for business and educational podcasts.

Viewers using wireless headphones are 32% more likely to watch full-length episodes without pausing.

73% of viewers prefer streaming video podcasts over downloading them.

Only 11% of users download full episodes for offline viewing.

Among users with unlimited data plans, 84% choose to stream video podcasts even when on mobile.

5 G-enabled smartphones account for 46% of total mobile video podcast views.

Since the rollout of 5G, video podcast buffering complaints have dropped by 58% among mobile users.

Viewers on tablets average 29 minutes of watch time per session, compared to 34 minutes on smart TVs.

Picture-in-picture viewing is used by 37% of smartphone viewers during multitasking.

Episodes under 20 minutes are 2.4x more likely to be consumed on mobile devices.

Viewers with large-screen smartphones (6.5" and up) are 41% more likely to watch video podcasts than those with smaller screens.

Chromecast and AirPlay are used by 14% of viewers to stream video podcasts to larger displays.

28% of smart TV viewers discover new video podcasts through built-in platform recommendations.

19% of smart speaker users ask for podcast recommendations but switch to video versions on other devices.

Multiscreen usage (watching on TV while using a phone) occurs in 23% of video podcast sessions.

Podcasts that support vertical video formatting see 39% more mobile replays.

Split-screen mode is used by 12% of Android users during video podcast playback.

Creators who format episodes for vertical-first viewing see a 44% increase in mobile watch time.

Viewers on Wi-Fi networks stream 2.7x more video podcast content than those on mobile data alone, streaming an average of 27 minutes per session compared to 10 minutes for mobile data users.

Nighttime viewing (after 9 PM) accounts for 31% of total smart TV-based podcast consumption.

Users with Bluetooth car integrations report 17% higher watch-through rates during stationary playback.

Touchscreen scrubbing is used by 62% of viewers to skip or rewatch segments on mobile.

Final Words

There’s no denying that video podcasting has found its place. The numbers show consistent growth, not just in how many people are watching, but in how often, how long, and across how many platforms. 

What was once a side format for audio-first creators is now something many are leading with, and for good reason.

The visual layer adds something extra. It helps creators connect more deeply, makes the content more shareable, and offers new ways to reach people who might’ve never hit “play” on an audio episode. 

Whether you’re already running a podcast or just thinking about it, these stats give a clear snapshot of what’s working and why.

It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about understanding how people prefer to consume content today. And right now, video is playing a much bigger role than it used to. 

If this list surprised you, you’re probably not the only one.