Acast Launches "Staycast" to Encourage Staying at Home

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, April 6, 2020

Staycast

Acast has launched "Staycast," a new campaign encouraging people everywhere to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic, offering podcast-based inspiration and entertainment from a wide range of popular podcasters. Listeners will hear messages of support (or "Staycasts") across the network's shows from some of Acast's top podcasters - including "Watch What Crappens," "Fat Mascara" and "Forever35" - as they remind people of local government advice around staying at home and isolating, as well as giving recommendations of other podcasts to listen to while they do so.

Accompanying this will be a social media campaign, where "Staycasts" - Instagram Lives, IGTVs and Stories takeovers - will include Q&As with podcasters, live classes or tutorials, listening parties, live episodes and more. Dedicated Staycast collections on the Acast app will also provide listeners with recommendations for shows and episodes to relax, escape, or keep up to date on the latest coronavirus developments.

Despite changes in people's behavior in isolation, the Acast network has registered that podcast listenership during the past three weekends is at record-breaking numbers globally - with weekend listens up +13.5% overall.

Acast's VP/Brand Lizzy Pollott said, "Podcasts - whether listening to or making them - have always been a perfect source of distraction, entertainment or information. Now, during isolation times, we're seeing listens across our network grow stronger than ever - and we're seeing some great new shows and spin-offs being born, too. "

"We are so proud to be able to bring the most recognizable voices in podcasting together to support the guidance of public health officials and the government, while offering even more great entertainment and resources to those at home," she added.