Podcasting -App Pocket Casts cuts a new tale for the future of podcasts in a way that is almost hard to believe. From Tuesday (March 1), Pocket Casts has eradicated its basic subscription level to its web and desktop apps, which means you can listen to all the best podcasts for free, which marks a rather important step towards making podcasts more accessible and most importantly more affordable.
Pocket Casts’ decision to return to an open access platform reflects its long-standing principles to maintain an open podcasting ecosystem that has not been disregarded by payment-walled services, all of eradicating algorithm-controlled discovery functions. “By making our web player available to everyone, we strengthen our belief that podcasts belong to the people, not businesses,” it said in his message.
This is a fairly reassuring statement to read, and one that I hope will trigger further conversation about where we draw the line when it comes to paying for audio content like podcasts. And it’s hard for me to think that Pocket Casts pulls our legs here as it promises to offer features that any podcast enthusiast should have the right, including multi -unit playback synchronization, trouble -free podcast management and subscription savings and preferences -all by signing up for free.
Even before it was acquired by AutomiIC in 2021, Pocket Casts has existed as an open podcasting service (at least on its mobile version) that operates on open technology and allows users to create, share and download podcasts to their heart’s content. But since podcasts are migrated to paid platforms like Spotify and YouTube, we have seen some abolition of available podcasting. That’s at least one reason why Pocket Casts has made this rare move.
Pocket Casts has no shame in the shade Spotify
“The future of podcasting should not be locked behind Walled Gardens. It must be free, open and accessible to everyone – on any device, without restrictions ”. Pocket Casts shared this statement in their message and I can smell the resentment of Spotify from a mile away.
It is clear that pocket casts are not too happy with the way other audio platforms have benefited from the profitability of podcasts, especially when it comes to limited podcasts in these apps that require an extra charge on top of your Spotify Premium or YouTube Premium Monthly Charge. Over the past year, there has been a noticeable shift in the way these other sound flow services have changed their podcast strategies. It’s not a surprise that Pocket Casts makes such bold decisions.
Last summer, the Apple opened the gates in its own brick garden, making it easier for non -ap users to stream Apple podcasts from a web browser, and Spotify has been careful about the business page of its podcasts by launching ad-free video podcasts in January. It will take a lot too pocket -dropping to build a popularity status that can match its competitors, but this rare feature not only opens more doors to podcast access, but it may turn the heads to loyal subscribers on Spotify and other major audio platforms.
