From TV to Podcasting

Why Freelancers Need to Pivot Now

The TV industry is in crisis, and if you’re a freelancer, you already know it.

For years, we’ve accepted the unpredictability of our work

Long stretches of nothing followed by frantic months of back-to-back jobs. But this? This feels different. Production budgets are shrinking, commissioning has stalled, and the once-thriving UK TV industry is now leaving seasoned professionals struggling to find work.Freelancers who have spent decades perfecting their craft are facing an impossible choice: wait for things to pick up, or pivot into something new.

And that’s where podcasting comes in

“The global podcasting market was valued at approximately $24.03 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $131.45 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 20.78% between 2024 and 2032”

The Problem:
A Shrinking Industry and an Overcrowded Marketplace

We’ve all ridden the waves of chaos and uncertainty that come with being a freelancer. But nothing compares to what’s happening now.

It’s not just that there are fewer shows, it’s the uncertainty of if the industry will ever return. It feels like a breach of trust – as the industry freezes in fear of making a wrong move, we freelancers are taking up the slack. As one friend put it, “it’s like TV is in denial of being in debt, and pretending that everything is normal”.

Experienced professionals with BAFTAs and decades of experience are stacking shelves in supermarkets to make ends meet or leaving the industry entirely. We’ve built our careers in TV. It’s what we do. The benefits of working in a creative industry with brilliant teams of people were worth the rollercoaster of being a freelancer.

The idea of pivoting to something new might feel like admitting defeat. It feels sad to let that go. But what if, instead of seeing this as the end of something, we saw it as the beginning of something new?

Why We See Podcasting as the Natural Sideways Move for TV Professionals

Over the last few years, I’ve worked as a podcast editor for TV spin-off podcasts for shows like The Masked Singer and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.I have seen first-hand how the skills we’ve honed in TV can translate into the podcasting world. I had to learn new techniques and embrace new approaches to telling stories.But at the end of the day, storytelling is what we all love to do.

TV might be slowing down,but podcasting is growing—fast

UK podcast listenership hit 21.2 million in 2022, and globally, there are over 546 million podcast listeners and growing.Advertisers are pouring money into podcast sponsorships, and production companies are investing in high-quality, story-driven audio content.

“Spend on podcast advertising up 23% year-on-year. The growth in the podcast industry has led to a growth in spending on podcast advertising. The IAB digital media industry update reported a 23% increase in advertising spending on podcasts compared to 11% for the industry generally.”

For TV professionals, this isn’t just an opportunityIt could be a lifeline

Podcasting isn’t just a side hustle or a fallback option – although that might be a good way to look at it in the short-term. Podcasting is a thriving industry where our storytelling expertise, technical skills, and industry experience matter. We already know how to craft compelling narratives and engage audiences. We have a lot to offer to an industry that struggles to find good talent.All professional podcasts need high levels of production and post-production. Audio podcasting is still extremely popular, and much simpler to produce. As visual podcasting gains momentum and YouTube becomes more important, there are a lot of podcast producers are now wrangling with the complexities of working with video.

How to Get Started in Podcasting as a TV Freelancer

OK, but where do I even start? The positive news is many of our skills can translate quickly into podcasting – with a few tweaks.

1. Identify Your Niche and Strengths

  • Are you an editor? Audio post is in high demand.

  • A director or producer? Your ability to craft a compelling story is gold in podcasting.

  • A development producer? Podcasts can be used as cost effective testing grounds for TV and film concepts.

  • A camera op? Okay, audio might not be your thing—but video podcasts are exploding.

  • You don’t have to start from scratch, you just have to learn a few new skills and reposition yourself.

2. Build Your Portfolio

The hard truth? Podcast recruiters don’t care about the credits on your CV. Even stand-out IMBD credits on high end hit TV shows probably confuse most people outside of the TV bubble.
Nearly every job application in podcasting and social media now asks for a portfolio.

But how do we telly people create a portfolio that showcases our work? And how do we stand out from the hoard of applications on LinkedIn?
Creating a portfolio is a problem as there isn’t a consistent template. It’s hard for recruiters too. Make sure it’s clear and that you’re thinking from the podcast producer’s perspective.

3. Network Where It Matters

Networking in TV has always been about knowing the right people. Podcasting is different. If freelancing in TV feels like the Wild West at the moment, starting out in podcasting feels like being flung into the middle of the ocean without a paddle.

If you don't already have a network of podcasters, getting known is the opposite of the closed shop TV used to be. You'll quickly find yourself competing on LinkedIn or side-gig platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to find your first client.

But you're competing with hundreds of applicants from all over the world, with a vast range of skills and rates. This isn't just a nightmare for freelancers with 20+ years of highly skilled experience under our belts, but also for recruiters—filtering out the right person for the job can be an expensive minefield.

And this is where Wildrness comes in.

Wildrness: A Platform Built for Creative Freelancers

Wildrness is a new platform designed specifically to help TV freelancers switch into podcasting and social media.

Founded by CEO Leon Stuparich (TV Editor, Producer, and Podcast Editor) and COO Louise Grace (Industry Consultant and Leadership Specialist), Wildrness is built for freelancers, by freelancers.

We’ve taken everything we’ve learned from decades of Learning and Development and working in TV, and created a platform to help you to transition into this booming industry.

What You Can Expect from Wildrness

1. Freelancer Visibility

Wildrness helps you create a shareable, interactive portfolio that actually gets seen. Matching freelancers with projects and recruiters based on skills and personal traits. Your portfolio isn’t buried in an inbox or lost in a sea of LinkedIn posts.

2. Creative Development

With a podcast, you can test a TV idea, build an audience, establish a personal brand, or use it as an effective promotional tool for an existing production.
We provide strategic planning and hands-on support to ensure it delivers real value and revenue potential.

3. Growth

Whether you’re pivoting into podcasting or upskilling within TV, Wildrness provides access to skills and training, mentorship and industry insights to help you stay ahead.

How it works

Sign Up & Create Your Portfolio

We’ve designed a professional, sharable portfolio specifically designed to translate your existing TV skills into a format that podcast producers and recruiters understand.

Develop Your Skills

If you’re lacking specific podcast industry tools and knowledge, our learning library will provide the opportunity to learn the key skills you need to build a sustainable freelance career in podcasting.

Get Hired & Grow

Our platform matches freelancers and recruiters based on more than just job titles and required skills. Our system showcases your experience, personality and creative style.

Key Features of the Wildrness Platform

  • Professional Portfolio for Creative Industries

  • Psychometric and Data Science Profiling

  • Personality and Skills-Based Portfolios and Job Matching

  • Podcast Industry Education & Skills Training

  • Podcast Freelancer Networking

  • Unique Showreel Creation Services

  • Podcast Consultancy and Mentoring Services

  • Podcast AI Technology & Analytics

  • Podcast Industry Insights

Ready to Future-Proof Your Freelance Career?

Sign up to our waitlist to be the first to access Wildrness when we launch. Or, if you believe in the future of TV freelancers in podcasting, invest in our seed round and help shape the next era of freelance work.

Our portfolio service and Wildrness skills library is currently in beta mode. Click here if you would like to find out more or join the waitlist.

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