On Monday , there were murmurs Apple might launch a podcast subscription service . Today , those rumor came honest . Kind of . Instead of Podcast+ , we ’re getting what ’s basically a redesign of the Apple Podcasts app — and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions , a new , Patreon - similar program for creators .
Theannouncementisn’t a total surprise . snipping of code in the iOS 14.5 beta hintedthat changes were comingto Apple ’s Podcast app , and earlier this calendar month , Applepremiered an original podcastto help promote The pipeline , a newfangled true - criminal offense docuseries for Apple TV+ . Plus , it ’s not as if Apple ’s been shy these retiring two years about hooking drug user further into its ecosystem with services that complement its ironware . ( See : Fitness+ , which ties in with Apple Music , the Apple TV , and the Apple Watch . ) We knew Apple was up to something , though it appears the rumor mill misinterpret it as a Podcast+ service … or else of what it actually is .
Another change is that the app itself will debut something it name “ channels . ” These channel are show that have been grouped together by creators — and there will be free and paid versions of each . There will also be an enhanced Search tab and a Smart turn button that will mechanically originate occasional shows from the latest instalment and serialize shows from the starting line of the series . You ’ll also be able to bring through individual episodes for offline playback .
Image: Apple
So , how much is this all going to cost ? agree to Apple , the actual monthly or one-year subscription price will be find out by the Creator themselves . So again , contrary to what the hearsay grinder assume , this wo n’t be a podcast streaming overhaul . Like with other app subscriptions , you’re able to handle them from your Apple ID chronicle preferences , as well as the Listen Now tab within the Apple Podcasts app . you may also share a subscription with up to six people via Family Sharing .
As for Almighty , Apple is also launching a website calledApple Podcasts for Creatorsas a sort of podcast 101 resource . It ’s also bring out an updatedApple Podcasts Connectdashboard , which provide you to track prosody and access code marketing cock to track or grow your podcast . To get accession to all the necessary tools for agio subscriptions , creators can compensate $ 20 a yr for the Apple Podcasters Program ( which you could enroll for through Apple Podcasts Connect ) .
This revamp come at a time when most of the podcast - associate headlines have belonged to Spotify ( which , by the way , is reportedly mulling its own podcast subscription service ) . Despite helping to vulgarise the data formatting back in the day , Apple has ceded ground in late years . Spotify has invested hard in building a podcast empire byacquiring Gimlet Media , several otherpodcast - relatedcompanies , and a slew of exclusive , original audio content . It ’s not that Apple ’s completely irrelevant — after all , who has n’t listened to a podcast where the Host necessitate you to place it extremely on Apple Podcasts ? But this does put platforms like Patreon — and Spotify — on notice as it makes monetizing subject matter easier within the Apple ecosystem .
Image: Apple
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions will be available in over 170 countries and regions , and will ask iOS 14.5 , iPadOS 14.5 , and MacOS 11.3 . you’re able to also get at Saved Episodes via watchOS 7.4 and tvOS 14.5 . All of these software updates will be available start out next workweek .
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