AceShowbiz - Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger, has emphasized the growing popularity of podcasts among younger audiences, noting that formats unheard of on traditional UK television are flourishing in the audio space.

Speaking at MIP London in 2024, Tony Pastor outlined the success of Goalhanger’s podcast-first approach, expressing a strong sense of optimism about the future of podcasting. He challenged the assumption that younger generations only engage with short-form content, citing data showing otherwise.

According to Tony Pastor, the average listener of Goalhanger’s podcasts is 33 years old, with about half the audience falling into their 20s and early 30s. This demographic is engaging deeply with complex subjects, such as the multi-episode series The Rest Is History's deep dive on the history of Carthage, which presents a demanding entry point for any audience.

"People keep telling us that the TikTok generation only want short form," he said, highlighting the discrepancy between common perceptions and actual listening habits. The scale of listenership for these podcasts reaches millions of downloads, a reach that no TV commissioner in the UK would currently consider for such niche topics.

Tony Pastor’s remarks underscore a significant shift in how younger audiences consume media, signaling a promising future for podcast creators and platforms embracing this format.