---
title: "Podcast Explore"
slug: "podcast-explore"
updated: 2026-01-08T17:20:14Z
published: 2026-01-08T17:20:14Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.tritondigital.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Podcast Explore

You can filter, view, and export podcast metrics data reports with Podcast Explore. It makes it easy to create a variety of filtered and aggregated reports across several [dimensions](/docs/podcast-explore#addingselecting-dimensions). For example, you can split by Program, episode, and device family, or you can split by Program, device family, and episode. The data for both is the same, but the way it's presented is different. You can include up to eight dimensions in a report, in any order. You can also [export](/v1/docs/exporting-triton-metrics-reports) your reports to an Excel file.

> [!NOTE]
> Also see:
> 
> - [How to Add Podcast Categories to Measurement and Forecasting Reports](/user/docs/how-to-add-podcast-categories-to-measurement-and-forecasting-reports)
> - [Selecting Omny Studio Podcasts](/user/docs/selecting-omny-studio-podcasts)
> - [Podcast Log Requirements](/user/docs/podcast-log-requirements)
> - [Webcast Explore](/user/docs/webcast-explore)
> - [TAP Explore](/user/docs/tap-reports-tap-explore)

The Podcast Explore user interface is responsive and easy to use. The descriptions in this user guide will help you get started, but the best thing to do is navigate through the application, seeing how the various elements work together to create insightful reports that you create according to your needs and interests.

## Open Podcast Explore

You can access Podcast Explore at [https://metrics.tritondigital.com](https://metrics.tritondigital.com/) domain. Be sure to allow that domain if your web browser uses an ad blocker.

To open Podcast Explore go to **Metrics > Podcast Metrics > Explore**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/PCE-UI-overview.png)

1. Query Builder. Select the publisher/market/program, choose a date range, add optional additional filters, and set up your metrics and dimensions.
2. Selection management area. What appears here depends on what you have selected in the Query Builder.
3. Report area. This is where the reports you create appear. Reports are sorted by Downloads. The on-screen report shows a maximum of 500 rows. Exported reports show a maximum of 100,000 rows.

## Example Podcast Report

This example shows podcast statistics for three dimensions, sorted by **Downloads.**

**![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/Overview-sample.png)**

## Create a Podcast Explore Report

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/PCE-creating-query.png)

1. Choose publishers, markets, programs, or lineups.
2. Select the [date range](/docs/podcast-explore#choosing-a-date-range) for the report.
3. Add any additional filters you want.
4. Select the [metrics](/docs/podcast-explore#selecting-metrics) that you wish to view from the drop-down menu, or remove metrics that are already selected.
5. Specify splits by selecting up to eight [dimensions](/docs/podcast-explore#addingselecting-dimensions).
6. Select **Run** to see the report.

### Choose a Date Range

Podcast Explore requires a date range. When you click the date range indicator the**Date Range** panel appears, where you can choose a range such as "Last 7 Days" or "Last Week," or specify a **custom range**. Click **Apply** or **Apply and Run** to apply the date range.

> [!NOTE]
> The date range and time dimension settings in TAP and Webcast Metrics are based on **station timezone.** Those settings in TAP Explore, TAP Affidavits, Podcast Explore, and Lineup Explore are based on **UTC**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/Explore-DateRange-select.png)

1. Click the **Date Range** indicator...
2. ...the **Date Range** panel appears.
3. Select a date range preset or a custom range.
4. Click **Apply** or **Apply and Run**.

| **Preset** | **Definition** |
| --- | --- |
| **Yesterday** | The day before the current day. |
| **Last 7 Days** | The seven days preceding the last day for which there is data. |
| **Last Week** | The calendar week preceding the last day for which there is data. |
| **Last 30 Days** | The 30 days preceding the last day for which there is data. |
| **Last Month** | The calendar month preceding the last day for which there is data. |
| **Last 90 Days** | The 90 days preceding the last day for which there is data. |

### Select Filters

Use the **Content Filter** to filter your query results by publisher (if you have access to more than one publisher), by market (if you have defined different markets). You can also filter by programs or lineups. You can select multiple items within a content filter category (e.g., within the Programs category you can select one or more programs), but you cannot select from multiple categories (i.e., you cannot select both a program and a lineup).

Access the **Content Filter panel** by clicking the first item in the filter row. Select either the Publisher, Market, Program, or Lineup tab, then choose the specific item(s) you want.

![Publisher-select](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/Publisher-select.png)

1. Click the first item in the filter bar…
2. …the Content Filter panel appears in the selection management area.
3. Select the "Publisher," "Market," "Program" or "Lineup" tab…
4. …then select the item you want at the top level of your report. (You can select more than one item from the chosen category.)
5. Click "Apply and Run."
6. (Optional) Click "Add new" to add additional filters.*
7. (Optional) Add or remove Metrics from the drop-down menu.*
8. (Optional) Add or remove Dimensions from the drop-down menu.
9. Select **Run**to re-run the report if you change the filters, metrics, or dimensions.

### Filters and Dimensions

**Expand to see the list of optional filters and dimensions.**

Some items only appear as dimensions. Dimensions from the listener's user agent might include some variability because user agents do not always return an exact match. For example, a particular device or player might go by two or more different names.

| Filter/Dimension | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Category** | The category label, taken from `itunes:category` elements in the RSS feed. If you have applied more than one category to your podcast, Podcast Explore uses the first one you applied. For example, if you applied the categories **Fiction**, **Comedy**, and **Art**, in that order, Podcast Explore uses **Fiction**. If your program contains multiple RSS feeds using different categories, your metrics for that program will be split according to that number of categories. To avoid this, use the same category for all RSS feeds from the same program. If you are using Omny Studio, be sure to use the same categories at the Program level and the Playlist (podcast) level, to avoid splitting your metrics. |
| **CDN** | The content delivery network for the podcasts. |
| **CMS** | The content management system for the podcasts. |
| **Country** | The country of the listener. |
| **DMA** | The listener's DMA (Designated Market Area), by name. Only applicable in the U.S. |
| **DMA Code** | The listener's DMA (Designated Market Area) code number. Only applicable in the U.S. |
| **Data Source** | The data source for the podcasts. Returns either **Triton Digital** or **3rd Party**. |
| **Day** | The day. |
| **Destination Param** | The RSS feed through which the podcast download was served. While episodes are usually delivered via their original podcast feed, some CMS (content management system) platforms allow distribution through alternate feeds like playlists or branded channels. **Destination Param**identifies which feed actually delivered the content to the listener. It uses the `dest` parameter from the link used to download the episode. For details, see [Podcast Log Requirements](https://tritondigitaldev.atlassian.net/user/docs/podcast-log-requirements#required-and-optional-fields-in-the-log-lines). |
| **Device** | The listener's actual device, such as an iPad or Android device. |
| **Device Family** | The listener's device family, such as **Mobile Device** or **Smart Speaker**. |
| **Device Param** | The device that was used to download a specific podcast. It uses parameters from the link used to download the episode: `dev` or `devicename`. For details, see [Podcast Log Requirements](https://tritondigitaldev.atlassian.net/user/docs/podcast-log-requirements#required-and-optional-fields-in-the-log-lines). |
| **Distributor** | The distributor that is passed in the URL query in the****`dist` parameter. For details, see [How to get Distributor statistics for podcasts](/user/docs/how-to-get-distributor-statistics-for-podcasts). |
| **Episode GUID** | The episide GUID from the podcast’s RSS feed. See [Use GUID](/user/docs/important-recommendations#use-guid). |
| **Episode ID** | The episode ID. |
| **Episode Title** | The episode of the program (podcast), by title. |
| **Media type** | The format of the downloaded podcast, either **audio**or **video**, as reported by your podcast’s CDN (content delivery network). |
| **MSA** | The listener's MSA (Triton Metro Streaming Area). Only applicable in the U.S. See [MSA Usage Notes](/docs/podcast-explore#msa-usage-notes). |
| **MSA Code** | The listener's MSA (Triton Metro Streaming Area) code number. Only applicable in the U.S. See [MSA Usage Notes](/docs/podcast-explore#msa-usage-notes). |
| **Market/Network L1** | The network or market first level. |
| **Market/Network L2** | The network or market second level. |
| **Month** | The month. |
| **Player** | The listener's specific player, such as **iTunes** or **Stitcher**. Note that **iTunes** refers to the iTunes desktop app, podcast downloads via mobile iTunes is reported as **iOS unspecified App**. |
| **Player Family** | The listener's player family, such as **Podcast Player** or **Web Player**. |
| **Player Param** | The player that was used to download a specific podcast. It is based on the parameters in the link used to download the episode: `tgt`, `ps`, `pname`, or `plr`. For details, see [Podcast Log Requirements](https://tritondigitaldev.atlassian.net/user/docs/podcast-log-requirements#required-and-optional-fields-in-the-log-lines). |
| **Podcast (Feed)** | The different feeds of your podcast program. If you have more than one feed, this dimension breaks them down separately. Example: you might have a main feed with the podcast episodes, and a second feed containing only interviews. |
| **Podcast ID** | The podcast ID. |
| **Published Date** | The publication date of the podcast. |
| **Publisher** | The publisher name. |
| **RSS Feed** | RSS feed of the podcast. |
| **Region** | The geographical region of the listener (such as the state or province). Not all countries have defined regions. |
| **Source Param** | The source URL that was used to download a specific podcast. It uses parameters in the link used to download the episode: `src`, `ss`, `pversion`, or `terminalid`. For details, see [Podcast Log Requirements](/user/docs/podcast-log-requirements#required-and-optional-fields-in-the-log-lines). |
| **Subcategory** | The category label, taken from `itunes:subcategory` elements in the RSS feed. If you have applied more than one subcategory to your podcast, Podcast Explore uses the first one you applied. For example, if you applied the **Sports**category with subcategories **Soccer**, **Football**, and **Baseball**, in that order, Podcast Explore shows the **Soccer** subcategory. If your program contains multiple RSS feeds using different subcategories, your metrics for that program will be split according to that number of subcategories. To avoid this, use the same subcategory for all RSS feeds from the same program. If you are using Omny Studio, be sure to use the same subcategories at the Program level and the Playlist (podcast) level, to avoid splitting your metrics. |
| **Week** | The week. |

### Select Metrics

By default, **Downloads**, **Listeners**, **Downloaded Hours,** and **Avg. Downloads per Listener** are selected. Open the drop-down menu to select more metrics, or select the **X** on a selected metric to remove it. The **Metrics** drop-down menu works the same way as the [**Dimensions** drop-down menu](/docs/podcast-explore#addingselecting-dimensions).

For more information, see [Metrics Definitions, Podcast Metrics](/user/docs/metrics-definitions#podcast-metrics-definitions).

> [!NOTE]
> The **Listeners** metric is calculated dynamically using an approximation methodology due to the cardinality of the many available dimensions. From one query to another, the typical variance is +/-3%. Therefore, **Listeners** can't be perfectly compared across queries and dimensions.

### Select and Change Dimensions

You can split your podcast metrics by up to eight dimensions.

> [!NOTE]
> If you list more than one dimension and the first in your list is time-based, the resulting data is sorted by that time dimension. Otherwise, data is sorted by downloads.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/Dimension-selector.png)

1. Select the **Dimensions** drop-down list to reveal the options.
2. Select dimensions in the order that you want them to appear in the report.
3. To re-arrange dimensions, un-select on the drop-down list and re-select in the order you prefer.
4. Select an existing dimension in the dimension bar to change it or select **+ Add New** to add a new dimension.
5. Select **Run**.

### Using Run, Apply, and Apply and Run

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7124b381-0a94-401a-abbd-9df9c4ea5dff/Images/Documentation/Explore-submit-apply-run.png)

There are several ways to apply changes in the query builder and to run the report. The option you choose depends on your context.

| **Item** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| **Run** | The **Run** button appears in the Query Builder. Use it to**submit changes and re-run a report** after you change a filter or dimension. You can also use this button to run a report if you have closed the **Selection Management Area** without having clicked **Apply and Run**. |
| **Apply** | Click the **Apply** button in the **Selection Management Area** to apply your selection (filter or dimension) without running the report. Use this when you plan on adding several filters or dimensions. It saves you time because you don't have to wait for the report to generate before you select the next item. |
| **Apply and Run** | Use **Apply and Run** when you have selected the last item from the **Selection Management Area** and you are ready to run the report. |

### MSA Usage Notes

**MSA** (Metro Streaming Area) is a Triton Digital-defined region for measuring demographics in the United States. It is used primarily for densely populated urban areas; not every address in the United States falls into a Triton MSA, and some addresses overlap into two Triton MSAs (such as some addresses in New York state which fall under both the **New York** MSA and the **Nassau-Suffolk** (Long Island) MSA).

To avoid duplicate data when using MSA in a report, you should either **filter** by MSA or **split** by MSA dimension, but not both (there is no deduplication process). Also, you should not aggregate MSA results, as you could be counting some listeners twice due to market boundaries that overlap.

## Sort Reports

Reports can be sorted by columns. For details, see [Webcast Explore](/user/docs/webcast-explore).