Google Podcasts is indexing premium podcast feeds

Google Podcasts is indexing premium podcast feeds

Listen · · 1.8 minutes to read

This article is at least a year old

  • In the New Media Show over the weekend, Google Podcast product manager Zack Reneau-Weden was interviewed. He gave strong hints that Google Podcasts would be available on more platforms in future; discussed support for deep links into audio, like chapter marks, from show notes; and claimed that there were over two million podcasts indexed in Google Podcasts. (Apple claim about 600,000; he may have been including duplicate RSS feeds like those from Castbox, which are still partially visible in Google’s search index). He also made great play of Google’s personalised recommendations, rather than using editorial teams, which he claims doesn’t scale: particularly for the diverse groups of people who listen to podcasts. He also trailed new announcements at Podcast Movement.

  • Here’s another reason why Google Podcasts may claim 2m podcasts: Google Podcasts is indexing paid-for versions of podcasts. A Redditor spotted, among others, premium podcasts from Randi Rhodes and Dan Savage appearing in Google Podcasts’ catalog. We’ve spotted these appearing in other podcast apps too (notably Castbox and Podbean).


    Aug 3 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.
    • If you don’t want a premium RSS feed appearing in Google’s search index, the correct way is to use an HTTP header of X-Robots-Tag: noindex - just like you’d hide it from Google’s main search index (because it is Google’s main search index).
  • Audioboom claim that they’ve paid all outstanding money to podcasters. (?)

Thank you to ART19 and Cabana for becoming supporters of Podnews. Also, thank you to Auscast Network, who became personal supporters last week. :)

Companies mentioned above:
Apple logoAppleART19 logoART19Audioboom logoAudioboomAustralian Podcast Awards logoAustralian Podcast AwardsGoogle logoGoogleGoogle Podcasts logoGoogle PodcastsPodcast Movement logoPodcast Movement

Readers and supporters

Gold supporters

Silver supporters

Readers and supporters

Get a global view on podcasting and on-demand with our daily news briefing