Apple Podcasts
Hosting platforms · Listening apps
Address: 
Cupertino, CA, USA
Apple Podcasts is an audio streaming service and media player application developed by Apple for playing podcasts. Apple began supporting podcasts with iTunes 4.9 released in June 2005 and launched its first standalone mobile app in 2012. The app was later pre-installed with iOS beginning October 2014. The Apple Podcasts directory features more than two million shows. Apple Podcasts is available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, CarPlay, visionOS, Microsoft Windows operating systems, web browsers, and on Amazon Alexa devices. Wikipedia
Website: www.apple.com
Owned by: Apple
About Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is the world’s premier destination for podcast discovery and listening. It provides the best experience for listeners to explore millions of shows on every imaginable topic and to directly support the creators behind them. For fans looking to deepen their connection with their favorite podcasts, Apple Podcasts also offers thousands of premium subscriptions with benefits like exclusive content and ad-free listening. The entire library is available for free, and is seamlessly integrated across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay, and on the web at https://podcasts.apple.com.
Latest news
- Jun 10: Apple released more information on upcoming features, as part of the company's WWDC event. In the announcement, we learn that from "fall" this year - Mac users will get access to video podcasts in the Podcasts app; Apple Podcasts on tvOS also will support video playback and will have a full redesign; and there is a new "search within a show" feature to find an episode.
- Jun 5: The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) has announced its "cross-platform alternative to the podcast download". The group has defined a "play" for podcasts, as part of four exposure definitions. We're promised more information in mid July. The definition differs from the widely-supported IAB Podcast Measurement Guidelines, and from definitions from Apple Podcasts and YouTube, who are not part of the group.
- Jun 1: Adam Curry and Dave Jones discussed the news of the formation of the Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting in the Podcasting 2.0 podcast. The solution is, they suggest, cutting podcast app developers in on ad revenue (as, to an extent, Apple Podcasts is already doing with their HLS video), in return for better first-party data. The guest this week is Mike Dell from Blubrry.
- May 28: Smart TVs are the new place to watch podcasts, according to new data released this week from Signal Hill Insights and FlightStory - with almost half of UK podcast consumers using their smartTV to watch podcasts. The data suggests that podcasts are competing directly with linear TV and streaming, and most consumption happens 7pm-11pm. It's, says Paul Riismandel, "a fundamental shift in how UK audiences are spending their evenings." FlightStory also released its own data alongside the study. (Of note: while you can watch Spotify video podcasts, Apple Podcasts has no support for video on TV as yet - and, unlike Apple TV, doesn't have an app on other platforms.)
- May 27: While video was launched on Apple Podcasts earlier this year, it's currently not possible to offer paid subscribers on Apple Podcasts any access to video.
Data credits: Google Maps, Podnews newsletter, Wikipedia