Scripted podcast network Realm has announced that it is planning to expand its portfolio with over 120 original and partner shows in less than a year.
Realm’s network expansion includes partnerships with over 40 audio production companies and independent producers including Wolf Entertainment, which is behind the official Law & Order: SVU podcast and a number of audio fiction series like Hunted and Dark Woods, Fool & Scholar Productions, Leviathan Audio Productions, and RomComPods.
“With legendary creative talent and IP holders entering the space and the fastest growing audience in podcasting, the scripted category is one of the most exciting and innovative in the industry, and this is just the beginning,” said Realm co-founder and CEO Molly Barton. “Realm is propelling exponential audience growth and simplifying discovery for listeners by bringing together amazing shows and creators as the hub for storytelling across fiction and all story-rich categories.”
As part of the partnership, Realm will support a number of the partner audio fiction podcasts by providing reach to a global audience and monetisation opportunities through its in-house advertising team. Advertising partners that are part of the Realm network include mental health services platform BetterHelp, which was the number one podcast advertiser in the US in November 2022, meal kit company HelloFresh, and language learning software Babbel.
“The Realm team is more hands-on than any network we’ve worked with. They find sponsors for our shows that we are not only comfortable with, but like,” said Fool & Scholar Productions co-founder Travis Vengroff. “Realm has more than doubled our monthly ad revenue and has also leveraged their size to make introductions on our behalf, be it for cross promotion or to explore new opportunities.”
Realm also produces a slate of its own original audio fiction podcasts including If I Go Missing the Witches Did It with Gabourey Sidibe which won the 2022 Webby people’s choice award for Best Scripted Podcast and a number of Ambie-nominated shows including science fiction show Outliers with Scream 4 actor Rory Culkin as well as Orphan Black: The Next Chapter and Power Trip featuring the main actress from the TV original show, Tatiana Maslany.
With the aim to expand its international presence, Realm also announced that it will be expanding select shows into multi-lingual formats in French and Portuguese. A new slate of original shows will also be coming soon from the network in partnership with horror filmmakers John and Sandy Carpenter, multi-award winning audio drama creator John Dryden, and author of True Blood Charlaine Harris. Staff and advisors working in the network also come from big audio platforms like NPR, Spotify, Warner Brothers, Gimlet, and more.
