For over 12 years the NoSleep team has been bringing listeners outstanding horror content that consistently lands them at the top of the Fiction charts. Featured in publications such as Wired, USA Today, and The Toronto Star, this popular show amassed a large cult following of fans who love a good scare.

From the beginning, NoSleep has released their content in seasons, each with about 25 episodes, and historically had monetized by selling “season passes” - users would pay a one-time fee to access a private RSS with ad-free episodes and bonus content from that season.

But with a vast back catalog of past seasons, the NoSleep team realized that the season pass framework had run its course and that a premium subscription model would provide a much better listener experience while also unlocking the power of recurring revenue.

After considering different platform options, the team decided to launch on Supercast thanks to the platform’s easy signup process, seamless user experience, community growth tools, and ability to accept multiple forms of payment.

From one-time fees to recurring monthly revenue

Working closely alongside the team at Supercast, NoSleep decided to launch with two plans:

• $5 per month for subscribers interested in only the latest season
• $10 per month for those that want access to NoSleep’s entire back catalog of premium episodes. 

Both tiers provided access to a NoSleep Discord server and AMA functionality which the team debuted in conjunction with launching on Supercast. Those tools helped members gain access to other fans of the show, as well as the people who make it, fostering a stronger sense of community. 

A win-win for the NoSleep team and their audience

Making the switch from a legacy season-pass model to a monthly subscription has proven to be a massive success for both NoSleep’s listeners and internal team alike. Subscribers now have the chance to connect with fellow fans of the show, and by offering the entire back catalog all in one place, they have unparalleled access to the horror content they love.

The results speak for themselves: 

• Revenue 4Xed in the first three months after making the switch to Supercast.

• 70% of subscribers opted for the $10 tier, confirming the value of their back catalog among the majority of their premium audience. 
• The number of monthly subscribers has surpassed the number of season passes sold last season.

“Getting the regular monthly revenue has been transformational for us,” said David Cummings, the host and producer of the NoSleep podcast. “I know our fans are really loving the platform, and the support we got from Supercast while getting off the ground was flawless.”

For additional details about how the NoSleep team announced the switch to their fans, check out their Sleepless Sanctuary Announcement episode. In it, you’ll hear David explain the different ways fans can enjoy and support the show, outline how premium subscribers help make the show possible, and answer questions from the NoSleep community about the change.

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