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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

#141
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not using Adblock Radio, though that is an interesting idea. All new technology.

Creator of Adblock Radio here. If some day you are able to share your approach to filter ads, especially native ones, I would greatly appreciate it.

Their homepage shows you the few podcasts they support which suggests some sort of manual pattern recognition per channel. It's clearly not a general solution like adblockradio.

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

#142

Founder here: I think that many people already skip the ads using the 30 second skip forward button. I know I did before building this app. I'm also thinking about safety -- people driving their car and reaching for their phone to skip the ads.

The biggest issue here for me is that you're charging for this app. You're basically asking me to pay you for your hard work of removing ads from someone else's hard work of creating content.

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

#143

Amazing! Was meaning to build something like this for a while, glad you beat me to it! Re: monetization/ethics/etc -- would 100% support podcasts that follow the Brave model with opt-in for ads or pay if you want ad-free experience.

I agree - thank you!

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

#144

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?

The twist here is that he's make a profit from automating that process. It's not necessarily unethical, but it's morally dubious, at least.

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

#145

You're getting a lot of hate for it but congrats on the release. Can you comment on how you are identifying ad content?

Doubtful. I'm interested in that as well.

If I were making it, I would listen for keywords (ex: Cash App, Onit, MyBookie.com, Manscaping, Dollar Shave Club) that could be updated like an AdBlock filter list. Combine that with obvious changes in inflection, notable differences in the waveform, etc.

I would also assume my implementation would cut the podcast down to about 4 minutes with all the false positives.

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

#146

You're getting a lot of hate for it but congrats on the release. Can you comment on how you are identifying ad content?

I see it as a meaningful discussion, not necessarily hate, but I see your point! I can't tell how it works, just that it is pretty cool!

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

#147

And now suddenly (looking at a lot of the comments here) ad-blocking is about privacy? I simply don't want to see/hear crap, period.

"I want people to spend the equivalent of a full-time job researching content, writing shows, organizing guest appearances, producing high-quality audio, and marketing/distributing it to me. I'm prepared to pay exactly $0 for this, and I can't not be entertained for a 30-second sponsor spot."

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

#148

Very cool idea, I'm curious about how this was built and works. I'm also curious if you think you'll face any challenges or if Apple will allow this to live on the play store?

I can't tell how it works, because I don't want to create competitors.

I don't see why Apple would have a problem with it. Their own "Podcasts" app lets you skip ads. This app finds the ads and skips automatically.

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

#149
post #114

I think people are making too big a deal out of this. Popular podcasters do make money through Patreon for example, not everything comes down to advertising. And for frank, honest commentary, I think I would rather not have advertiser influence over podcasts, just like the news. And many people do podcasts just out of passion or a hobby...they are more like blogs than anything else.

>I think I would rather not have advertiser influence over podcasts

So you're willing to pay the creators instead?

>many people do podcasts just out of passion or a hobby...they are more like blogs than anything else

...ahhh I guess not. Nevermind then. Ads it is!

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

#150
post #41

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.

If users aren't willing to support a podcast then that's a big signal as to what the value of that podcast is.

When I look at the list of podcasts I subscribe to there aren't really any that I would miss terribly if they decided to stop. I have too many options when I want to listen to something.

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