From TV To Video Podcast: ABC Grows ‘20/20’ Franchise With True Crime Expansions.

The growing audience for the true crime content produced under the “20/20” banner has led ABC Audio to expand the weekly 20/20: The After Show series to video. The podcast, a companion to the iconic television program, will make the leap into video starting Monday, Sept. 29, following the 48th season premiere of the “20/20” television series on Sept. 26.

The 20/20: The After Show episodes give listeners the story behind each week’s episode of “20/20.” Hosted by co-anchor Deborah Roberts, the companion podcast shares the insights into the original reporting, strange-but-true twists, and exclusive interviews with those directly involved in each case, not heard in the TV episode.

Janice Johnston, Executive Producer of ABC’s 20/20, said in a recent interview that the podcast extensions are more than just spin-offs — they are core to the brand. “If it’s an extension, it feels like we’re handing it off,” she explained. “That’s why I say it’s part of the brand. We work in extreme partnership with our podcast team.”

Meantime, ABC News is expanding its “20/20” podcast portfolio with a new series titled Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa. The limited-run podcast hosted by correspondent John Quiñones takes listeners back to the murder of Private First Class Vanessa Guillén at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas.

After Guillén goes missing, her family pressures the military for answers. The search for their beloved sister and daughter ignites a movement and sparks a reckoning about a problem with sexual harassment in the military. The series will feature exclusive, never-before-heard interview audio from ABC News and original “20/20” reporting, as well as new updates from the family. The podcast will premiere Sept. 16.

The expansion of the brand will also see ABC Audio add a bonus episode to each new limited series, beginning with Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa. Led by Start Here host Brad Mielke, The additional episodes will feature Mielke in conversation with the series host, answering listener questions.

The expansion of the 20/20 brand in audio comes as ABC Audio says it has seen listenership growing exponentially across platforms. It says July 2025 was the best-performing month for true crime podcast titles on record for the brand. And the recent launch of Devil in the Desert became the most successful ABC Audio limited series ever, maintaining the No. 1 spot on Apple Podcasts’ Top Shows chart for over three consecutive weeks.

Despite numerous options for true fan podcast fans, Laura Mayer, Executive Producer of Podcast Programming at ABC Audio, said in a recent interview that the show’s legacy has helped make limited-run series a success.

“The limited run series are able to stand out because of everything that the 2020 brand has built up over its entire history” Mayer said. “We hope to continue being able to stand atop the shoulders of the giants of 20/20 to help keep giving more to that audience in the podcast space.”