Captivate launches a 'full transparency mode' privacy initiative

Podcast host Captivate has launched what they call “full transparency mode” - new functionality for their publishers to automatically add notices and privacy policies for any “prepend” services they use to their episode descriptions. Podcast Accelerator is an example of a podcast on Captivate that uses Chartable and Podtrac, as one example. The company has also added a privacy policy for listeners to their website. Mark Asquith, the company’s CEO, tells Podnews: “Our 'privacy policy for listeners’ is good for audiences; and full transparency mode is a first for any podcast host: it’s simply the right thing to do. We believe in transparency and urge all podcast hosting companies to consider implementing Full Transparency Mode, and a Privacy Policy for Listeners, within their platforms, too.” [Disclosures]

• The British Podcast Awards have announced that their awards will take place in a new, larger venue on May 16 - The Roundhouse in London, with space for 750 people. Overlooking the fifty judges will be last year’s winner, George The Poet. They’ve released five new categories. Acast is the new title sponsor for the awards; and it’s open now for entries.

  
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• The Apple Podcasts directory is currently slow to update podcast episodes on their website and to people who aren’t subscribed. Libsyn say Apple are aware of it. Subscribers remain unaffected.

• Mick Jagger has said “start me up” to his own podcast company. Rainy Day Podcasts will produce a number of original narrative podcasts, and has done a deal for up to seven podcasts with Warner Bros Digital Networks.

• Podsights has merged its analytics and research service, launched a set of new functionality, and raised $1.5m. They’ve also added a number of new team members, and have a new logo with a kazoo. The company offers analytics and attribution services for podcasters and advertisers.

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• Latin music tv channel Latido Music has made a strategic investment in reVOLVER, a multicultural, audio-on-demand content creator and distributor. Terms weren’t disclosed.

• Vox Media now generates over $10m a year from podcasting, says Marty Moe, the company’s president.

• Podcast Ad Reps has announced a representation deal for over 50 original podcasts from the Ricochet Audio Network. “We look forward to receiving lots of free mattresses, toothbrushes, cat toys, and doorbells,” says Ricochet CEO Scott Immergut in a press release.

• Podspot, a new podcast studio, has opened in London, UK. It fits up to six participants and has a canteen on site. Meanwhile, there’s also a new podcast studio in Brattleboro VT, USA, run by the local community television service.

• The Canadian Podcast Listener examines the audience of The Joe Rogan Experience, which is probably the #1 podcast on the planet. There are fascinating similarities and differences with other top 10 podcasts.

  
  Aug 20 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Podjobs, our free jobs board for the podcasting industry, has new job editing features and boasts a streamlined user interface. Every new job gets promoted here in Podnews.

From the new book Make Noise by Eric Nuzum, available now

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• Paul Michaelenko posts 6 ways independent podcasters can compete with big media in 2020. Building strong, niche communities is one of them.

• Rhian Roberts, Commissioning Editor for Digital and Podcasts on Radio 3, 4 and 4 Extra, spoke at Podcon Cymru about what she sees next for podcasting.

Podcast News

Political magazine The New Republic has released the first of a number of podcasts with Talkhouse. The Politics of Everything launched yesterday, with TNR literary editor Laura Marsh and staff writer Alex Pareene. The first episode covers vaping, the environmental impact of having children, and the state of the 2020 Presidential race.

From The Newsroom is a new shortform podcast from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp in Australia. It’s sponsored by Australian telco Optus, and publishes daily at 7am. (NewsCast / Acast)

Verdict with Ted Cruz has “topped the charts” and apparently has been downloaded more than 500,000 times so far, according to US newspaper coverage of the US Senator’s podcast. (Megaphone/Podtrac)
Aug 20 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

The case involving S Town and the estate of John McLemore might be settled out of court; a judge has ordered mediation. If that fails, the case goes to court in January 2021. The case has a potential impact on many documentary-style podcasts.