TRUE CRIME PROGRAMMING SURGES

No matter where you turn today – linear tv, streaming docs or podcasts, the true crime genre is there. And the category only seems to be growing.

In 2023, there was a 48% year over year increase in viewership of true crime premieres across broadcast and cable.¹ According to market research from YouGov, half of Americans say they enjoy the true crime genre, including 13% who say it’s their favorite genre.² And for audiences 45 plus and women, the numbers are even higher.

+48%

increase in True Crime across in broadcast & cable in 2023

Creative Ingredients

So, what has contributed to true crime’s remarkable surge? We have done a lot of work in the space and it boils down to the following.

1. Full Immersion

True crime viewing is an immersive experience. Once a viewer is captivated by a crime story, they become ‘armchair detectives’ likely to seek out all information to attempt to solve the case themselves. 58% of Americans think that this genre actually helps solve crimes that wouldn’t have been solved otherwise.²

2. Unfiltered Emotion

These raw and emotionally charged cases elicit a range of deep emotions from fans. From empathy for the victims, to shock about the story details and lastly outrage towards the perpetrator.

3. Safe Entertainment

While no one wants to make light of tragic situations, there is no denying viewers watch because the stories are so riveting. They give us “a shock of adrenaline, but in a relatively safe environment.”³ And, according to Psychology Today, true crime stories “reinforce a sense of moral clarity, and remind us of our own good luck.”

4. Unrestricted Access

Viewers also want to feel like they have full access to victims, their families, and expert criminal investigators, too. As they watch the programming, they build trust in some and disbelief in others which helps them as they attempt to solve the case.

It's All About Gripping Stories

While there are different reasons why we engage with true crime, at the end of the day it comes down to quality storytelling and cases that leave us on the edge of our seat. True crime taps into our innate curiosity about real-life mysteries, gives us a glimpse into dark dimensions of criminal minds, and delivers that tingle of suspense we all crave.

FACTOID

Although the total number of crimes solved as a result of true crime programming can be difficult to calculate, there have indeed been dozens of cases cracked this way. One notable example occurred during the filming of the HBO series, The Jinx, in which a seemingly evident confession was recorded of Robert Durst, who unknowingly had his wireless microphone on while using the bathroom.

Turns out your true crime addiction is more than a guilty pleasure after all. 😉