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Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

bloomberg.com

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Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#21

Post by jfengel »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #11
jfengel wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of ironic, since the name "podcast" comes from the Apple iPod. If anybody would have first dibs on the name "podcast", it's them.

That in and of itself is kind of ironic since the iPod has been all but relegated to the annals of history.

"No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame."

It's gone now that everybody has a pocket supercomputer, but it's stunning just how far it went in completely changing the way we relate to music, and audio in general.

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#22

Post by MBCook »

reaperducer wrote: post #17
MBCook wrote: post #2

This is very unfortunate. Apple being totally hands off, other than running the iTunes podcast directory, is one of the best things that’s ever happened for podcasts. I like my 3rd party app (Overcast). I don’t want to have to use 3 podcast apps to listen to all my podcasts. I think I agree with some of the podcast app developers: if it’s not available in any app it shouldn’t be called a ‘podcast’.

Form what I read in the article it doesn't sound all that terrible. If Apple were to remove all non-Apple podcasts from its platform, that would be bad. This is just Apple supplementing what's already available. It's very much like Apple rolling out original television shows on the AppleTV. It's not like HBO is getting kicked out. It makes sense to me that Apple would do this. Since it's making podcasts a separate pr…

Apple having original podcasts, EVEN IF FREE, means there are now two classes of citizens on its platform. First class (Apple stuff), and ‘the rest’.

And I don’t trust that ‘the rest’ will continue to get good treatment like they have. It’s too easy to stop featuring big podcasts from companies who are now your podcast competitors.

Basically they’re losing their neutrality.

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#23

Post by buildzr »

nameismypw wrote: post #16
barbecue_sauce wrote: post #6

Is this where Spotify is heading as well with its acquisition of Gimlet?

Yes, and Anchor. Podcasts are on the way out, just like the open Web. It's unfortunate that we refuse to learn from history.

Is there any reason we can't just rip podcasts from these, post them in RSS feeds and have the non-owned apps list them for free - thus making them far superior by giving them access to all content?

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#24

Post by b_tterc_p »

I don’t know why apple assumes they will be good at making creative content. Podcasts, TV, video games...

They might be. No reason to lean either way. But it’s expensive. It feels contrary to the desires of people who invested in apple, the hardware, software, and platform provider...

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#25

Post by marmada »

reaperducer wrote: post #17
MBCook wrote: post #2

This is very unfortunate. Apple being totally hands off, other than running the iTunes podcast directory, is one of the best things that’s ever happened for podcasts. I like my 3rd party app (Overcast). I don’t want to have to use 3 podcast apps to listen to all my podcasts. I think I agree with some of the podcast app developers: if it’s not available in any app it shouldn’t be called a ‘podcast’.

Form what I read in the article it doesn't sound all that terrible. If Apple were to remove all non-Apple podcasts from its platform, that would be bad. This is just Apple supplementing what's already available. It's very much like Apple rolling out original television shows on the AppleTV. It's not like HBO is getting kicked out. It makes sense to me that Apple would do this. Since it's making podcasts a separate pr…

What is the difference between exclusive podcasts and making a website that only runs on Safari?

In both scenarios it is a company giving their product an artificial advantage. There's no technical reason that a website should only run on one browser, it kind of feels the same way with podcasts.

Then again Netflix makes Netflix originals, which are only available on Netflix, and I don't mind that, so I guess my viewpoint is contradictory.

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#26

Post by root_axis »

jfengel wrote: post #21
godzillabrennus wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That in and of itself is kind of ironic since the iPod has been all but relegated to the annals of history.

"No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame." It's gone now that everybody has a pocket supercomputer, but it's stunning just how far it went in completely changing the way we relate to music, and audio in general.

I don't think it changed the way I relate to music at all, it was just one more step in the ladder. I had a walkman before I had CD player before I had a MiniDisk Player before I had an iPod before I had Spotify.

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#28

Post by dmix »

MBCook wrote: post #22
reaperducer wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Form what I read in the article it doesn't sound all that terrible. If Apple were to remove all non-Apple podcasts from its platform, that would be bad. This is just Apple supplementing what's already available. It's very much like Apple rolling out original television shows on the AppleTV. It's not like HBO is getting kicked out. It makes sense to me that Apple would do this. Since it's making podcasts a separate pr…

Apple having original podcasts, EVEN IF FREE, means there are now two classes of citizens on its platform. First class (Apple stuff), and ‘the rest’. And I don’t trust that ‘the rest’ will continue to get good treatment like they have. It’s too easy to stop featuring big podcasts from companies who are now your podcast competitors. Basically they’re losing their neutrality.

That would only be bad if Apple had a monopoly or the other platforms all copy Apple and it cannibalizes the freedom of podcasting in general. But if it’s limited to a few ‘premium’ shows/platforms - while 99% of other content is open - I don’t really see it as a problem.

Particularly if the only way they can finance the shows is by limiting it to their platform, then I’d rather have them still produce that content than not at all…

Sometimes it’s the only way it makes sense as a business, there is no open alternative.

Spotify, Netflix, and every other streaming service functions this way with non-portable content and providing clients on every platform. While piracy fills the void for those who can’t pay or access the platform (for geographic reasons or w/e).

But I have to agree with the OP, it isn’t really a podcast anymore if it’s tied to one platform. It’s more like an on-demand XM radio show than a podcast.

Re: Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

#29

Post by ssalka »

dmix wrote: post #28
MBCook wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple having original podcasts, EVEN IF FREE, means there are now two classes of citizens on its platform. First class (Apple stuff), and ‘the rest’. And I don’t trust that ‘the rest’ will continue to get good treatment like they have. It’s too easy to stop featuring big podcasts from companies who are now your podcast competitors. Basically they’re losing their neutrality.

That would only be bad if Apple had a monopoly or the other platforms all copy Apple and it cannibalizes the freedom of podcasting in general. But if it’s limited to a few ‘premium’ shows/platforms - while 99% of other content is open - I don’t really see it as a problem. Particularly if the only way they can finance the shows is by limiting it to their platform, then I’d rather have them still produce that content t…

The difference is that movies & TV shows aren't typically given in open data formats - podcasts, or more specifically RSS feeds, are. By announcing Apple exclusive podcasts, they're stating their intent to create a silo around a data format that historically has been open.
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