Podnews Weekly Review
The last word in podcasting news.Every Friday, James Cridland and Sam Sethi review the week's top stories from Podnews; and interview some of the biggest names making the news from across the podcast industry.Winner, "Best Podcasting Podcast", 2025 Ear Worthy AwardsSupport the show at https://weekly.podnews.net - or hit the boost button! Sponsored by Buzzsprout: start podcasting - keep podcasting!
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New podcasts from AI now outnumber new podcasts from humans
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>AI is now publishing podcasts at a pace that can outstrip humans, and we feel the knock-on effects in discovery, trust, and monetisation. We trace how copycats and AI slop farms exploit platform incentives, then map the few practical levers creators and companies can pull right now.<br/><br/>• more AI-generated podcast launches than human launches on some days, and what that signals for the podcast industry<br/>• a copycat studio mimicking titles and artwork to siphon first listens and ad revenue<br/>• why near-copy metadata can evade simple copyri...
Patreon pays more to podcasts; Bryan Barletta on Podcast Movement NYC
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>We track the money moving into paid podcast subscriptions as Patreon reports record creator earnings, then follow the ripple effects across platforms, hosting, and video. Along the way we get the inside story on Podcast Movement New York City, plus the new tools and trends reshaping discovery, analytics, and audience feedback.<br/><br/>• Patreon’s $629M podcaster earnings and what it signals<br/>• Subscription revenue as a hedge against ad downturns<br/>• Patreon discovery plans and the platform power shift<br/>• BBC-linked creators launching Patreon and YouTube extras<br/>• Bryan Barlet...
Free transcripts! Plus, Beehiiv gets podcast hosting, and Brkthru's measurement of podcast ads
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>Please visit podnews.net/reportcard and fill out the questionnaire!<br/><br/>We get into the real fight over podcast transcripts: where they should live, how they should be formatted, and why “one transcript everywhere” beats a pile of app-only versions. Then we zoom out to the bigger platform shift: all-in-one creator stacks, new monetisation options, Spotify’s latest ad experiments, and what advertisers actually want when they ask for ROI.</p><p>• Buzzsprout rolling out free automatic transcripts on paid plans<br/>• Chapter markers inside the transcript editor and why st...
Apple Podcasts new video, and AI in podcasting from Snipd and Podhome
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>Why does James sound so different in the intro? Because he's standing in Hong Kong airport waiting to get onto an aeroplane, that's why.<br/><br/>This week: Spotify quietly trims its podcast team while Apple pushes HLS video into Apple Podcasts, forcing hosts and creators to rethink what “open” distribution means. We also dig into transcripts as a baseline accessibility feature and test-drive the next wave of AI tools that curate listening and automate publishing. <br/>• Spotify podcast layoffs and what they signal <br/>• Apple Podcasts video on iOS 26.4 u...
Why Reveal is bigger than ever; and exploring your podtential
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>Apple’s push for HLS video in Apple Podcasts sparks a hard look at hosting costs, creator economics, and what “video podcasting” will really mean once pricing lands. We also dig into a major investigative show’s comeback story and the growing wave of tools aimed at helping independent podcasters grow without giving up ownership.<br/><br/>• Apple Podcasts HLS video partner expansion and what it unlocks <br/>• Why video delivery can cost far more than audio <br/>• Break-even thinking for video podcasts plus production overhead <br/>• TrueFans video hosting launch, pri...
Steve Ackerman's next move; Adobe's new tools; and new Infinite Dial numbers
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>We break down the newest podcast industry data and the platform moves that are quietly reshaping how people watch and listen. We debate what success should mean when YouTube leads listening time, Apple moves video to HLS, and creators still get judged on downloads. <br/>• Infinite Dial numbers on in-car audio and monthly and weekly podcast reach <br/>• Share of ear shift showing YouTube leading total podcast time <br/>• Podbean pulling dynamic ad insertion across Europe and the fallout for creators <br/>• Adobe Podcast updates including source separation, music removal, and...
Triton Digital's Sharon Taylor, on what Apple Podcasts HLS Video Really Changes
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>Apple’s HLS video support, Triton’s roadmap, and the real cost of video collide with questions about measurement, privacy, and control. We chat with Sharon Taylor from Triton Digital.<br/><br/>And, with Kattie Laur, we also explore Canada’s podcast identity, the CBC effect, and why discovery and funding—not mandates—unlock local growth.<br/><br/>• Why Triton added video without giving up control<br/>• Apple’s HLS model, dynamic ads, and hosting costs<br/>• Spotify’s API path vs open RSS monetization<br/>• limits on first-party data and privacy choic...
Apple Podcasts video tech details; plus Supercast acquired - we speak to its CEO
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>We break down Apple’s video podcast rollout, why HLS matters for reliability, and what ad skipping really looks like. Then Supercast’s CEO shares how subscriptions scale, followed by a compelling case for narrative audio over flat studio video.<br/><br/>• HLS architecture with separate audio rendition and why the mix must be broadcast‑ready<br/>• What Apple will and won’t enforce on ad skipping and why shorter breaks retain better<br/>• Frame rates, resolutions, and a nod to Vision Pro and immersive options<br/>• Why only a minority can s...
Apple Podcasts Video - HLS, ads, and podcaster control
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>Apple turns on HLS video in Apple Podcasts and rewrites the business rules while keeping files with hosts. We unpack the listener experience, creator workflows, dynamic ads, costs, open standards, and what Spotify and YouTube might do next, with insights from Justin Jackson.<br/><br/>• HLS explained and why it matters for control<br/>• What listeners get on iOS and when it ships<br/>• MP4 feeds versus HLS delivery trade-offs<br/>• Supported hosts at launch and why ad-tech drives it<br/>• Delivery metrics vs true attribution for advertisers<br/>• Apple’s per...
YouTube’s Real Numbers, Spotify’s Strategy, And Nigeria’s Podcast Boom
<p>Send James and Sam a message or voicemail</p><p>(This audio contains a fix for part of Tony's audio)<br/><br/>(These show notes are using Buzzsprout's CoHost tool. Buzzsprout are our sponsor and very good at podcast hosting and all that.)</p><p>We dig into YouTube’s rare revenue reveal, Spotify’s mixed ad picture, and why premium is rising fast. Tony Doe joins live from Lagos to unpack Nigeria’s podcast boom and what creators can learn.<br/><br/>• Captivate hires Rob Walsh and Elsie Escobar for monetisation and creator community<br/>• YouTube discloses $60bn revenue an...
