Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals

Post by 52-6F-62 » Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 10:48 PM UTC

chrisrhoden wrote: post #90

52-6F-62 wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s called dynamic ad insertion. Online radio stations use it all the time for localized ads based on IP address. Did some work for a set of radio stations in the way of building a diagnostic web player for the metadata in HLS streams debugging their new ad system. (Using HLS.js which I have to say I’m grateful for as it’s a brilliant library) So they don’t have to stitch together one new audio file per local but pl…

No HLS in podcasting because of its legacy but just-in-time building of audio files with some caching is plenty fast. Some folks who do this use old internet radio streaming technology with the max buffer size set to infinity, but most of the time it's operating with plain old mp3s.

Post by mevile » Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 10:49 PM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #89

marmada wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 viewp…

What is the difference between exclusive podcasts and making a website that only runs on Safari? Ask Google, which is actively encouraging people to write web sites that only work on Chrome. Sometimes it's OK, sometimes it's not. Netflix and Hulu and other streamers are allowed to make and distribute original content. Since 1987 in the United States, aside from news, TV networks aren't allowed to make and distribute…

Post by chrisrhoden » Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 11:04 PM UTC

52-6F-62 wrote: post #101

chrisrhoden wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No HLS in podcasting because of its legacy but just-in-time building of audio files with some caching is plenty fast. Some folks who do this use old internet radio streaming technology with the max buffer size set to infinity, but most of the time it's operating with plain old mp3s.

For sure? Not sure that HLS is bound to AAC (though that’s the standard) as it’s just the container format. Could be transmitted MP3 10s chunks split and added metadata encoded by the distributor. Either way if you’re right about the JIT and buffering it would be trivial to stitch some ad markers in at that point. But I’m sure independents/lower-volume shows at the very least operate like you’ve said. Makes sense.

Post by arkades » Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 11:18 PM UTC

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…

Post by rwz » Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 11:24 PM UTC