Podnews
Your daily briefing for podcast and on-demand
Website: podnews.net
Owns
Latest news
- Mar 10: Podcast hosting company Podbean has abruptly pulled its dynamic ad insertion tool across the whole of Europe. No notice was given; the affected countries imply that there is a concern with GDPR compliance. The company launched PodAds in 2019. “We rely on dynamic insertion,” one customer told us, “and without prior warning, this has a huge impact on us”. The company told Podnews that the decision was "based on a combination of evolving global privacy regulations and a shift in our internal product focus."
- Mar 9: When contacted by Podnews, Eric Nuzum from Magnificent Noise said that the website is “asking all the right questions”. However, he told us: "All podcasts require two things from their creators: passion and curiosity. AI can imitate the effects of those things, but it cannot be passionate or creative. So if anyone chooses to do the activities that the site suggests requires disclosure, I’m having trouble imagining it will ever achieve any audience impact worth considering."
- Mar 6: Competitors iHeartMedia filed for bankruptcy in Mar 2018, emerging in May 2019. Audacy also filed for bankruptcy in Jan 2024 (emerging in Sept). Cumulus itself last filed for bankruptcy less than ten years ago, in Nov 2017.
- Mar 4: Audible has a new, lower-priced, subscription offering for people who really like podcasts. The $8.99 “standard” plan gives users unlimited access to Audible Originals, as well as nearly 200 shows previously available on Wondery+. You also get access to one audiobook a month.
- Mar 3: Want to take a popular podcast and turn it into video - but you have no actual video? The BBC is launching five AI-animated video adaptations of its Witness History podcast. Here’s the first, about the labradoodle, produced with Singapore’s 1UpMedia and following the BBC’s AI Editorial Guidance. 1UpMedia’s Guang Jin Yeo tells Podnews that the company has worked on a structured workflow designed for broadcaster environments.
Data credits: Podnews newsletter