Cards On The Table, the new, gamified spin-off in the The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast universe, has hit 12m views in its first seven days.
A shorter, more dynamic format than a traditional podcast episode, the new evolution sees Platform Media expand its fast-growing sports show, while staying true to the qualities audiences love.
The new format is simple: Rivals, team-mates, old friends and huge names take turns to flip over cards that spark a debate, a story, a strong opinion or a challenge. Beneath its straightforward premise, you’ll find competition, laughs and questions that spark debate.
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Episode one saw World Champion darts player and die-hard Manchester United fan Luke Littler face off with one of his idols: 11-time Premier League champion Paul Scholes.
Bringing together two people from different generations and different sporting backgrounds – with prompts designed to spark conversation and newsworthy moments – the format drew out a story of how Scholes feels responsible for Paul Pogba leaving the club, and Littler to hint that he could retire at any moment.
The result was over 12 million views, and headlines picked up by Sport Bible, Metro and Football365 – a performance that rivals the main show episodes.
With new episodes to come, The Good, The Bad & The Football co-hosts Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness will alternate in the host’s chair, alongside a famous face from the world of sports, entertainment and beyond.
Scholes, said: “A few cards and some funny questions were all it took to spark a great conversation with Luke, and I really enjoyed getting to know him through it. I’m delighted it’s been so well received.”
Matt Stanger, executive creative director at Platform Media, added: “One of the great joys of creating The Good, The Bad & The Football has been seeing the audience react to the infectious personalities and brilliant chemistry of Paul, Paddy and Nicky.
“This new spin-off, Cards On The Table, enables us to take those dynamics in even more directions as we dig into the stories of big name guests through a gamified conversation. We’re absolutely delighted with the performance of the first episode, featuring Luke Littler, with plenty more to come.”
Conor Hewitt, head of sport at Platform Media highlighted the importance of the move: “Expanding IP and developing new formats is a huge focus for Platform Media. In an ever-growing media landscape, with so much competition, I’m really excited about how Cards On The Table has cut through. Its success highlights the importance of expanding the universes of our successful shows, and highlights that audiences will engage with new ideas if you ensure the quality is where they expect it.”
