iHeart To Launch ‘True Crime Tonight’ Show
• This Sunday evening, June 1 iHeartMedia will debut a new on-air format — True Crime Tonight, in collaboration with KT Studios. True Crime Tonight will initially launch on more than 20 broadcast radio stations across the country Sunday through Thursday evenings live at 10pm local time, and then — as part of iHeart’s continued “Podcast, Meet Broadcast” initiative — the show be available on demand weekdays through iHeartPodcasts.
The two-hour show is led by Stephanie Lydecker, Founder & CEO of KT Studios; Courtney McKenna Armstrong, producer and voice of KT Studios’ top-charting podcasts; and Baudi Moovan, acclaimed crime analyst and star of the Netflix documentary, Don’t F*** with Cats.
“We’re always exploring new formats for broadcast radio, and we’re thrilled to introduce True Crime Tonight,” said Tom Poleman, iHeartMedia’s Chief Programming Officer. “Stephanie Lydecker and KT Studios are leaders in true crime podcasting, and when Stephanie and I discussed creating a radio format, she was immediately on board. The show will feature live caller interactions and real-time updates, ensuring it remains incredibly engaging and up to date.”
“The idea of connecting live with audiences who are as passionate about the genre as we are is beyond exciting,” said Lydecker. “Tom Poleman is a true visionary. I am proud to bring this show to life and continue to expand our partnership with the exceptional iHeart team.”
Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, remarked, “Even as podcasting has exploded as the newest mass-ready medium in the United States, true crime has persisted as one of its most popular genres — and we wanted to bring that kind of storytelling to the world in a new way, with more interactivity and bigger audiences. There are a few mediums that drive more conversation than podcasts, but one big challenge with the medium is that podcasts are not themselves interactive. Broadcast Radio — what we sometimes think of as the original social media — can add exactly this element, engaging people in the live conversation with a real-time, interactive component, taking the story to a new level.”
