Podtrac Releases March Multi-Channel Podcast Ranker

Why It Matters

The multi‑channel view reveals how listeners engage across formats, guiding advertisers and creators toward more effective platform‑specific strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Podtrac’s ranker aggregates audio, video, and clip data for U.S. podcasts.
• Meidas Touch stays #1, showing strong cross‑platform audience.
• Joe Rogan remains #2, with over 50% consumption via audio.
• Candace’s ‘Candace’ ranks #9, driven mainly by video and clips.
• The Daily stays #6, almost exclusively listened to as audio.

Pulse Analysis

Podtrac’s March Multi‑Channel Podcast Ranker marks a pivotal shift in how podcast performance is measured. By combining traditional audio downloads with video streams and short‑form clip views, the metric offers a holistic picture of audience behavior that reflects today’s fragmented media consumption. This approach moves beyond legacy download counts, acknowledging that many listeners discover and engage with shows on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, where bite‑sized clips often serve as entry points.

The latest chart underscores divergent consumption patterns among the nation’s most popular shows. While Meidas Touch retains the #1 position with a balanced mix of audio, video and clips, the Joe Rogan Experience, still at #2, derives over half of its audience from pure audio—highlighting the enduring power of long‑form spoken content. In contrast, Candace Owens’ “Candace” (ranked #9) and Tucker Carlson’s show (ranked #10) lean heavily on video and clip formats, suggesting that visual storytelling and shareable moments are driving growth for politically‑oriented podcasts. The Daily, anchored at #6, remains an audio‑only staple, reinforcing the niche for daily news briefings.

For advertisers and podcast networks, these insights signal a need to diversify ad placements across formats. Brands can leverage video‑first shows for visual ad creatives, while audio‑dominant programs remain ideal for traditional host‑read spots. Moreover, the multi‑channel model equips creators with data to refine content strategies—whether expanding video production, optimizing clip snippets for social virality, or deepening audio storytelling. As the podcast ecosystem continues to converge with broader digital video ecosystems, multi‑channel measurement will likely become the industry standard, shaping investment decisions and content development for years to come.