The podcasting App Pocket Casts is carving a new narrative for the future of podcasts in a way that is almost difficult to believe. As of Tuesday (March 1), Pocket Casts has eradicated its basic subscription level for its web and desktop applications, which means that you can listen to all the best free podcasts, marking a fairly significant movement to make the podcasts more accessible and, most importantly, more affordable.
Pocket Casts’s decision to return to an open access platform reflects its long -term principles to maintain an open podcasting ecosystem that is not canceled by payment card services, all while eradicating the discovery functions controlled by the algorithm. “By making our web player available for everyone, we are reinforcing our belief that podcasts belong to people, not to corporations,” he said in his announcement.
This is a fairly reassuring statement to read, and one that I hope generates one more conversation about where we draw the line when it comes to paying audio content as podcasts. And it is difficult for me to believe that Pocket Casts is pulling our legs here, since it promises to offer characteristics to which each podcast enthusiastic must be entitled, including the reproduction synchronization of several devices, the management of podcast tails without seams and the savings and subscription preferences, all simply registering for free.
Even before Automatiic acquired it in 2021, Pocket Casts has existed as an open podcasting service (at least in its mobile version), operating with open technology and allowing users to create, share and download podcasts to the content of their heart. But since the podcasts have migrated to platforms with payment walls such as Spotify and YouTube, we have seen an accessible podcasting sacrifice. That is at least one reason why Pocket Casts has made this rare movement.
Pocket casts is not ashamed in the Spotify shadow
“The future of podcasting should not be blocked behind the walled gardens. It must be free, open and available to all, on any device, without restrictions. ” Pocket Casts shared this statement in his announcement, and I can smell the resentment of Spotify from a mile away.
It is quite clear that Pocket Casts is not very happy with the way in which other audio platforms have taken advantage of the profitability of the podcasts, especially when it comes to restricted podcasts within these applications that require additional rate on their spotify Premium or YouTube Monthly Premium. During the past year, there has been a notable change in the way in which these other audio transmission services have been changing their podcast strategies. It is not a surprise that Pocket Casts is making so bold decisions.
Last summer, Apple opened the doors of its own walled garden, which facilitated that users who are not Apple transmit Apple Podcasts from a web browser, and Spotify has been meticulous with the commercial side of its podcasts by throwing videos without ads in January. A lot will be needed for pocket cast to build a state of popularity that can match its competitors, but this rare movement will not only open more doors for access to the podcast, but can convert the heads of the loyal subscribers of Spotify and other important audio platforms.
