New York Times Releases Two New Podcasts: Animal & The Radar

New York Times Audio has two big announcements this week, first about Animal, a new podcast in collaboration with the New York Times Magazine, and second about The Radar, a soccer podcast from the NYT's The Athletic.

NYT Audio Introduces "Animal" Podcast About Animals Around The World

 The New York Times has been arguably the most successful, with a large roster of podcasts that report millions of downloads. Its daily news podcast called The Daily regularly tops the podcast charts. Other popular podcasts include The Argument, The Book Review, First Person, Modern Love, and Still Processing.

It's not a "throw it up against the wall and see what sticks" media strategy. The Times has carefully developed podcasts that fit their brand (loved by some and hated by others) and simulate the vibe of their editorial marque.

For newspapers like The New York Times, podcasts make economic sense. Production costs can be pricey but not break the bank. Moreover, the journalists that work at the newspaper can double as podcast hosts with expensive hiring of on-air talent. For example, Times reporters like Michelle Goldberg, Ross Douthat, and Frank Bruni have excelled at audio. 

Moreover, the Times and other newspapers use ad time on their podcasts to hawk digital subscriptions for their newspaper, and the growth of those subscriptions indicates that the strategy is working.

"Newspapers that start podcasts can bring in and attract a whole new customer base," says podcast consultant George Witt. "Podcast listeners are younger than the average newspaper reader, so the company can leverage their podcasts to embrace a new demographic."

The New York Times released its own podcast app in March 2023, and the app is included with a Times' news subscription.

Now the New York Times has released Animal, a six-part standalone audio series hosted by award-winning staff writer Sam Anderson.

Sam Anderson's  love for animals takes him on a journey around the world. As he swims with manatees in Florida, releases baby puffins on a remote island in Iceland, searches for an extinct wolf in Japan and confronts his fear of bats in Mexico, his encounters — with both creatures and the people who care about them — lead him to reflect on our own mammal lives. 

 “Animal” is a show about love, time, wonder and humans’ place on the planet. It revels in tiny moments (petting a dog, grooming a ferret) while also wrestling with some of the biggest questions of our time (climate change, mass extinction).

Created in collaboration by the Audio team and The New York Times Magazine, all six episodes of Animal are available now. 

Listeners of all ages can tune in on the NYT Audio app or wherever they get their podcasts.

 

 The Radar Podcast Premieres About Copa America & European Football championships

 

This compelling series spans 12 episodes and offers in-depth profiles of 12 emerging football talents, all aged 21 or younger.

Hosted by The Athletic’s Lucy Oliva and Mike Zimmerman, “The Radar” highlights seven standout players from the Euros and five from Copa América, showcasing their journey to the top and why this summer could mark their breakthrough moment on the global stage.

“It’s an enormous summer for football on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Adam Jones, director of Audio growth at The Athletic. “We believe the 12 players we’ve selected have the best chances of becoming household names by the end of their respective tournaments. We’re aiming to shine a spotlight on their journey and incredible potential in a storytelling style like only The Athletic can offer.”

The NYT marketing pitch is: "Powered by expert insights from The Athletic’s team of global football journalists, including James Horncastle, Jack Lang, Tom Williams and many others, The Radar is a must-listen for football enthusiasts keen to discover the next generation of football stars."

The first episode of The Radar highlights prodigal 16-year-old Lamine Yamal who has already broken a number of records for Barcelona and Spain in his short career so far. Will the precocious attacker cement his status as one of the most talented young footballers in the world out in Germany?

New episodes of The Radar will be released daily starting the week of June 3. Listeners can subscribe wherever they get their podcasts.