MYSTERY SOLVED ‘Dateline’ discovers path from TV to true-crime podcast stardom

make the top of the charts. What is more surprising is where they work: “Dateline,” the long-inthe-tooth and occasionally overlooked television newsmagazine from NBC.

For years, television franchises and established news media institutions have taken turns trying to adapt to of-the-moment formats, whether digital video, newsletters or podcasts. Many times, the results are awkward and abandoned. “Pivot to video” and Facebook Live are bywords for news media experiments best forgotten.

And yet “Dateline” has transformed itself into a podcast powerhouse, churning out several original series a year, all of which have been hits.

In addition, twice a week, “Dateline” opens its vault and turns old segments from the television show into podcasts. The archival material is also a success. On any given day, the “Dateline” podcast with the repurposed TV segments is usually among the top five podcasts on Apple’s charts.

What “Dateline” has done so well for so long on television — true crime, told with relish and deep reporting — appears to have met a moment in an entirely new medium.

“At a time where it is so hard for new television programs to break through, or for new brands to be established, the fact that ours seems to have renewed life? It’s great,” said Liz Cole, executive producer of “Dateline,” who helps oversee both the television show and the podcasts.

Listeners have downloaded “Dateline” podcast episodes nearly 800 million times since the first one appeared in 2019, NBC News said. Last year, the show beat out online heavyweights including ESPN, Barstool Sports and Crooked Media in Apple’s rankings of free podcast channels.

ALEX WELSH/THE NEW YORK TIMES Keith Morrison, the longtime“Dateline”correspondent, is seen Sept. 7 at his home in Newport Coast, California, where he records podcast episodes.