YouTube-First True Crime

A brainstorm of opportunities in the true crime content space, focusing on untapped niches and format innovations that could lead to successful media businesses.

Key Opportunities:

• YouTube-First True Crime Content:

  • Most true crime podcasts started as audio-only but YouTube now has a billion monthly podcast viewers
  • Create content designed primarily for video rather than adapting audio content
  • Invest in proper video production from the start, unlike competitors who added video as an afterthought

• True Crime for Runners:

  • Current true crime content has a slow pace (described as "50 beats per minute")
  • Create higher-energy true crime content specifically designed for workouts
  • Target the intersection of fitness enthusiasts and true crime fans

• Diverse Voices in True Crime:

  • Current landscape dominated by "midwestern NPR woman" style hosts with an "Ira Glass" cadence
  • Opportunity for content creators with different backgrounds and speaking styles
  • Specifically mentioned: true crime content from Black creators or with more diverse perspectives

• Comedy-Focused True Crime:

  • Most true crime content is serious, heavy, and mysterious
  • Create content with a comedy angle (though "My Favorite Murder" already exists in this space)
  • Low bar for humor in the genre means being "moderately funny" could stand out

• True Romance Genre:

  • Combine two popular genres: true crime and romance
  • Target the overlap between true crime fans and romance novel readers
  • Example mentioned: "Killer Couples" format about "lovebirds who commit murder"