Key Points
- Audiochuck appointed Matt Shanfield as Head of Television and Film to lead a new division focused on adapting its podcast IP for screen.
- The unit will develop original projects and acquire third-party content as Audiochuck expands into a vertically integrated studio model.
- The move aims to leverage popular franchises like “Crime Junkie,” which help drive the company’s 12 million monthly listeners.
Audiochuck, the true-crime media company responsible for hits like “Crime Junkie,” has hired a long-time industry veteran to help lead its new television and film division.
On Thursday, Audiochuck said Matt Shanfield has been appointed Head of Television and Film and will oversee the division’s strategy, including the development of new projects and adaptations drawn from Audiochuck’s existing catalog of shows.
The move marks its evolution into a vertically integrated studio that will develop and acquire intellectual property while adapting its popular podcast franchises for global streaming platforms, Audiochuck said in a statement.
“Audiochuck has built one of the strongest franchise engines in podcasting,” said Matt Starker, the CEO of Audiochuck. “TV and film are the next step. We are adapting, developing and acquiring premium IP for global platforms, delivering it with the same discipline and storytelling standards that define our work.”
The new division will focus not only on adapting Audiochuck’s podcast portfolio but also on developing new material and acquiring third-party projects that align with the company’s storytelling approach and audience interests.
Shanfield joins Audiochuck from Sony Pictures Television’s nonfiction division, where he served as Executive Vice President of Development at The Intellectual Property Corporation. During his tenure there, he helped develop and produce a range of premium nonfiction programming across multiple genres.
His credits include executive producing the Critics Choice Award-winning “Secrets of Playboy,” developing the upcoming Netflix nonfiction series “CLUE,” and producing the Emmy-winning series “Shark Tank.”
At Audiochuck, Shanfield will work to bridge the company’s library of podcast intellectual property with opportunities in the global television and streaming marketplace. He will also lead efforts to identify and acquire outside projects for development within the studio.
“Audiochuck has cultivated a level of audience loyalty that is unparalleled in the industry,” Shanfield said in a statement on Thursday. “The opportunity to build a sustainable, in-house screen content division from such a rich well of IP is a dream scenario. We aren’t just adapting podcasts; we are building a premium production ecosystem that honors authentic storytelling while dominating the global media landscape.”
The launch of the division reflects a broader strategy by Audiochuck to extend its storytelling across multiple formats and platforms. The Indianapolis-based company produces more than 20 weekly and seasonal podcasts that collectively reach more than 12 million listeners each month.
Among its most prominent franchises is Crime Junkie, one of the most widely downloaded true crime podcasts and a cornerstone of the Audiochuck network.
Executives say the new television and film unit will help the company expand the reach of its programming while creating additional opportunities to develop and distribute original content across streaming, television and digital video platforms.
