Apple makes it easy for podcasters to upload their subscription shows to their platform. Creators of select podcast distribution platforms such as Acast and Libsyn will soon be able to automatically upload their premium shows to the Apple Podcasts application instead of having to publish it episode by episode through the Apple platform.
Currently, subscribers to Apple Podcasters are required to post episodes via Apple Podcast Connect. The company says its new delegated delivery system will allow creators to skip this extra step and publish Apple broadcasts directly from their host’s dashboard. In addition to Acast and Libsyn, the initial group of partner hosts includes Buzzsprout, Omny Studio, RSS.com, Blubrry and ART19. The feature should start “this fall”.
The new distribution feature will also apply to free broadcasts that are distributed via RSS feeds. Even with the new distribution system, subscription-selling podcasters will have to pay for the Apple Podcasters program, which costs $ 19.99 a year.
Apple Podcasts spokesman Zack Kahn said the new feature is not designed to compete with Spotify’s Anchor, which allows creators to host and distribute subscription shows directly on Spotify. The intention, he said, is to create a more open podcasting ecosystem, so open that Anchor and Megaphone, also owned by Spotify, can become delegated partners if the company chooses to do so. Spotify did not respond to a request for comment on whether to do so.
Spotify already has its own partner hosts, which have simplified the publication of subscription shows through its open access program, including Supercast, glow.fm (owned by Libsyn) and an Apple Acast partner. (Note: Vox Media is also a partner in Spotify’s open source program).
Apple also announced a new feature for podcast listeners. A new software update for iPhone, iPad and Macs will allow users to specify how many podcast episodes they want to continue downloading in the offline listening app, with options like “last five episodes” or those released in the “last 14 days”. “Older episodes that are not downloaded manually will be removed automatically. The new download configuration potentially solves a lot of annoyance for heavy podcast listeners, who can quickly collect downloads that eat up their device’s memory.
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