Abbie Chatfield and Brittany Hockley’s podcasts could be among those in danger of getting axed amid rumours listeners are sick of hearing ‘absurd’ content from ex-reality TV contestants and them whinge about ‘rich girl problems’.
A whole host of former reality TV stars and Aussie celebrities have been jumping on bandwagon and setting up their own podcasts in recent years, but it has been claimed they aren’t all thriving.
The Bachelor star Abbie, 29, hosts LiSTNR It’s A Lot Podcast, where she talks about everything from her relationships to politics and feminism.
Meanwhile, Brittany and her best friend Laura Byrne often dish on their personal lives and pop culture on their LifeUncut podcast with iHeart.
Insiders have claimed the Australian podcast scene could be in for a huge shake-up, pointing to those hosted by celebrities.
‘There are whispers inside three of the biggest podcasting platforms in Australia that changes are going to be made – with one category currently under the microscope,’ a radio insider exclusively told Daily Mail Australia after tracking podcasts’ popularity across LiSTNR, Nova Podcast and iHeart Radio.
‘It would appear that ex-reality stars who have pivoted to podcasting are facing the chop right across the Australian Radio Industry.’
‘The long list of ex-reality TV stars that launched podcasts over the last four years are facing the chop with numbers decreasing for Abbie Chatfield, Brittney Hockley and Laura Bryne,’ another source added.
It has been claimed that it is ‘well-known internally’ that many producers no longer want to work on the long list of celebrity podcasts across Australia.
Abbie Chatfield (pictured) and Brittany Hockley ‘s podcasts could be among those in danger of getting axed amid rumours listeners are sick of hearing ‘absurd’ content from ex-reality TV contestants and them whinge about ‘rich girl problems’
Producers also criticised the ‘absurd’ content on many celebrity gossip podcasts.
‘The content on these shows is mind numbingly absurd,’ a former programming director claimed.
‘I don’t know if I am more annoyed by knowing what toilet paper they use or if I am annoyed by their self entitled rich girl problems.’
Insiders have claimed the Australian podcast scene could be in for a huge shake-up which puts celebrity podcasts at risk of being culled amid a fall in listeners (pictured: Brittany Hockley)
Podcasters with ‘extreme views’ are also said to be putting off listeners while there have also been problems with fact-checking on some of the gossip podcasts.
Abbie recently unleashed on former MAFS stars Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding, who also have their own podcast, on her show, slamming them for interviewing controversial MAFS groom Jack Dunkley on their Sit With Us podcast and not quizzing him on his infamous ‘muzzle’ comment.
‘We had been directed to advise our clients that some of our talent have ”extreme views” and that has been a real turn off only in this category,’ a source at Nova claimed.
Another insider claimed listeners don’t want to tune in to celebrity podcasts because they don’t have the same level of ‘integrity’ as other informative shows.
‘There are a lot of executives pointing out that these new aged podcasters who are not journalists,’ they claimed.
‘They don’t have that journalistic integrity – which is more common in categories like, True Crime, Health and Fitness, News and Sport.
Podcasters with ‘extreme views’ are also said to be putting off listeners, after Abbie unleashed on Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding on her show, slamming them for interviewing Jack Dunkley
‘While everyone loves a bit of gossip – listeners are tuning out in droves because they have become tired with unsubstantiated gossip – that at times audiences have felt misinformation.’
‘The podcast industry in Australia hasn’t really popped the way SCA, NOVA and iHeartRadio had expected it would for some of these ”chatterbox” podcasts and while True Crime continues to gain momentum, this one section of the industry hasn’t really proved to be as viable,’ another source added.
‘The decline in the industry is a clear indicator that audiences don’t feel that just because you were on a ‘reality show’ or have over 100k followers on I means we need to hear every thought that comes into your head.’
One source denied claims Abbie’s podcast is facing the chop, after she celebrated her largest monthly audience of 315,587 listeners in July and renewed for her sixth season.
In a recent media release, Executive Head of LiSTNR Podcasts, Grant Tothill, said: ‘For Hamish & Andy to continue as Australia’s favourite podcast, and for Abbie to achieve her best monthly audience, is a real credit not only to Hamish and Andy and Abbie, but also their respective teams.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the LifeUncut podcast for comment.
