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Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

adskippro.com

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Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#41

Post by spencey »

rahuldottech wrote: post #12

Cool idea? Yes. Good idea? No. If we do stuff like this, the podcast industry will switch to a closed system which would require you to install proprietary apps to listen to stuff. Likely several different apps for different shows and companies. As it exists today, it's a very open system, with publicly accessible feeds and the ability to use any app. Don't ruin it. It's not hard to press the "skip forward 30 seconds…

Anecdotally, I listen to a podcast where they make money off merch and Patreon only. No need for advertising.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#42

Post by corodra »

DataGata wrote: post #32
nickthegreek wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So its ethical to manually skip the ads but not to automate the process?

Podcasts and podcast advertisers know we can skip them, they accept this. If they see a lot of users skip ALL of them, it isn't okay.

Exactly. Because the podcaster is saying the script (normally), we may actually listen (pay attention) to it. That's what they hope for. If there isn't even a chance in hell that we would even START to hear it, then there's no more ad spending. Which means there's less content because not everyone can do the stuff for free at high quality.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#43

Post by pan69 »

nickthegreek wrote: post #21
rahuldottech wrote: post #12

Cool idea? Yes. Good idea? No. If we do stuff like this, the podcast industry will switch to a closed system which would require you to install proprietary apps to listen to stuff. Likely several different apps for different shows and companies. As it exists today, it's a very open system, with publicly accessible feeds and the ability to use any app. Don't ruin it. It's not hard to press the "skip forward 30 seconds…

So its ethical to manually skip the ads but not to automate the process?

Is it ethical not to look at a billboard when you're walking down the street?

Is it ethical to mute the TV when commercials come up?

I think it's just your choice, right?

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#44

Post by rahuldottech »

LeftHandPath wrote: post #37
rahuldottech wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, because some percentage of the users will still listen to the ad, especially if it's the first time they're hearing it. Make it automated, that guarantees that no one is listening to it. Which would mean no revenue for the content creators. Which would lead to a really crappy system.

But advertisements in podcasts are commonly pre-recorded by the podcast host(s) - so the host would still be paid for the advertisement, before it goes online. If the advertiser isn’t given any information about playback at ad time, then the revenue would not be affected.

If no users are listening to ads, then no one will purchase ads on the podcasts and the revenue for the creators will dry up.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#45

Post by nkrisc »

LeftHandPath wrote: post #37
rahuldottech wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, because some percentage of the users will still listen to the ad, especially if it's the first time they're hearing it. Make it automated, that guarantees that no one is listening to it. Which would mean no revenue for the content creators. Which would lead to a really crappy system.

But advertisements in podcasts are commonly pre-recorded by the podcast host(s) - so the host would still be paid for the advertisement, before it goes online. If the advertiser isn’t given any information about playback at ad time, then the revenue would not be affected.

Unless it becomes widely known that a large share of the podcast listening audience uses apps that automatically skip the ads. That devalues the podcasts to advertisers.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#46

Post by robbrown451 »

LeftHandPath wrote: post #37
rahuldottech wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, because some percentage of the users will still listen to the ad, especially if it's the first time they're hearing it. Make it automated, that guarantees that no one is listening to it. Which would mean no revenue for the content creators. Which would lead to a really crappy system.

But advertisements in podcasts are commonly pre-recorded by the podcast host(s) - so the host would still be paid for the advertisement, before it goes online. If the advertiser isn’t given any information about playback at ad time, then the revenue would not be affected.

That might work in the very short term.

It shouldn't take long for advertisers to realize that a) podcast listeners tend to skip over ads or b) podcast ads don't result in sales.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#47

Post by danpalmer »

I block ads on the web because web advertising networks proved that they had no respect for user privacy, lacked security controls around their ad delivery, and were targeting using data that they probably shouldn’t have had access to.

Podcasts do not suffer from this. It’s much harder to identify a user, the ads aren’t software, just audio, so security is better and there’s not much way to see who is listening to the ads other than voucher codes/referral links (which are inherently opt-in).

Yes I can always skip ads. Do I feel any security or privacy need to automate doing this? No.

If/when podcast advertising goes the way of web advertising, then there will be an eager market for this product, but until then let’s enjoy unobtrusive, respectful ads from hosts we trust, with targeting done broadly by podcast rather than personally identifiable information.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#48

Post by rahuldottech »

spencey wrote: post #41
rahuldottech wrote: post #12

Cool idea? Yes. Good idea? No. If we do stuff like this, the podcast industry will switch to a closed system which would require you to install proprietary apps to listen to stuff. Likely several different apps for different shows and companies. As it exists today, it's a very open system, with publicly accessible feeds and the ability to use any app. Don't ruin it. It's not hard to press the "skip forward 30 seconds…

Anecdotally, I listen to a podcast where they make money off merch and Patreon only. No need for advertising.

That only works for podcasts with big, dedicated audiences.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#50

Post by conroy »

saagarjha wrote: post #23

I find it interesting that their terms of use attempts to place restrictions on linking to their homepage : https://adskippro.com/terms.html I also find it interesting that this is in the terms, when their app is $1.99: > To the extent that the app and the information and services on the app are provided free of charge, we will not be liable for any loss or damage of any nature.

My guess is that they're using a boilerplate ToS, as the app looks relatively new.
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