NPR News Now maintains top podcast position with 670 monthly episodes

According to Triton Digital's latest U.S. Podcast Ranker released on January 16, 2025, NPR News Now maintained its position as the most downloaded podcast in December 2024, producing an impressive 670 new episodes during the month. The report, which covers the period from December 2 to December 29, 2024, demonstrates the continued dominance of news and current affairs content in podcast consumption.

The iHeart Audience Network secured its position as the leading sales network, generating 62.7 million average weekly downloads and reaching 17.8 million average weekly users. NPR followed in second place with 24.5 million average weekly downloads and 5.8 million average weekly users, while Audacy Podcast Network claimed the third position with 11.9 million average weekly downloads and 4.4 million average weekly users.

In the individual podcast rankings, NPR maintained a strong presence in the top positions. Following NPR News Now, the network's Up First podcast secured the second position with 30 new episodes, while The Dan Bongino Show from Cumulus Podcast Network held the third spot, producing 22 new episodes during the measurement period.

Several new entries marked their presence in the December rankings. The data reveals that 24/7 News: The Latest from iHeart Audience Network made its debut with 687 episodes, demonstrating the increasing appetite for regular news updates. The Adam Friedland Show Podcast from Audioboom and Ear Biscuits with Rhett & Link from Audacy Podcast Network also joined the rankings.

The measurement methodology adheres to strict technical standards. According to Triton Digital, their Podcast Metrics measurement service maintains certification from the IAB Tech Lab, complying with Version 2.1 of the IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines. This certification ensures accurate tracking of downloads, including complete file downloads, progressive downloads, and partial downloads that meet specific filtering criteria.

The rankings reflect a diverse podcast landscape, with content spanning news, entertainment, and educational programming. Notable movements include Behind the Bastards from iHeart Audience Network, which saw a significant jump of 20 positions, and PrayRadio, also from iHeart Audience Network, which moved up 26 spots while producing 157 new episodes.

News-focused content maintained a substantial presence in the rankings. The NPR Politics Podcast secured the tenth position with 21 new episodes, while Marketplace from American Public Media Group ranked 25th with 20 new episodes. These statistics underscore the sustained demand for credible news and analysis in podcast format.

The technical parameters for measurement include sophisticated filtering mechanisms. The system identifies unique downloads by filtering multiple requests from the same IP address, user agent, episode, and date, ensuring accurate representation of listener behavior. Additionally, the methodology distinguishes between downloads and users, with users identified through a combination of IP address and user agent information.

Looking at production volume, several podcasts maintained high episode outputs. The John Batchelor Show from Audioboom produced 590 episodes, while VSiN Best Bets from iHeart Audience Network released 509 episodes during the period. This high-frequency content production indicates the growing operational sophistication of podcast networks.

The measurement period, spanning December 2 to December 29, 2024, captured data from participating entities that opted into measurement. The ranking system bases its calculations on average weekly downloads and users, a methodology designed to minimize the impact of varying calendar month lengths and other factors affecting media consumption patterns.

Triton Digital's reporting structure divides the market into sales networks and individual podcasts. The sales network rankings encompass the top 20 networks, while the podcast rankings extend to the top 150 shows consumed by users in the United States. This comprehensive approach provides insights into both network performance and individual show success.