Acast promotes trustworthy content prior to UK election

• In the UK, since the general election was announced, there has been a 53% increase in unique listens to politics podcasts, according to Acast and Podchaser data. The company is marketing shows across its network and out-of-home.

  • In the UK? The election is on July 4. You need to bring ID to vote this time - bring your friends, too, this one’s important.

• Podcast Movement has unveiled Industry Connect, a new zone within Podcast Movement Central to connect professionals, including dedicated meeting spaces. Companies looking to reserve a private meeting spot should contact Kristy Scott from the team. (The event is in August - code PODNEWS will save money on passes.)

• Max Cutler’s PAVE Studios has launched an independent print and audiobook publishing venture, PAVE Publishing House.

• Pocket Casts has launched new Mac and Windows desktop players. They boast enhanced chapter support and automatic updates. The company is also testing a new beta of its web app, and has rolled-out a new timer with a “shake to restart” and graceful fade-out feature on mobile.

• Five days after its international closure, Google is still offering Google Podcasts for Android users on Google Play. Meanwhile, the iOS app now says, in a splash screen, that Google Podcasts goes away on Aug 30 (but still works); and Google Podcasts on the web has been closed again, and also carries the same new date.

  • Google Podcasts Manager is definitely going away on Jul 29, honest: the company has just sent a final reminder.

Moves and hires

• Flick Heath has joined podcast production company 18Sixty as Production Manager. She joins from Persephonica, Moonbug and the BBC.

Tips and tricks - with Memberful

• Often missed in the “does podcast advertising work” debate is… the power of good creative. Acast’s Joe Copeman writes a blog about improving 30-second ad spots.

Podcast News

Where Shall We Meet - “a podcast for shallow polymaths” - has been launched in the UK. Co-hosted by actor Natascha McElhone and entrepreneur Omid Ashtari, the show’s first episode is with Alastair Campbell discussing democracy and the upcoming UK election.

In the Podnews Weekly Review, Alban Brooke talks about Buzzsprout’s new Android app, and Russell Harrower from podcast hosting company PodToo talks about interfacing podcasts with radio. We also hear the latest about YouTube and Google Podcasts.

The BBC’s partnership with Lemonada Media has kicked off with the launch of Pop Culture Debate Club with Aminatou Sow - a pop culture show where two notable mega-fans square off, ready to convince host Aminatou Sow that their opinion on TV, movies, and music is the only one that matters, with Aminatou then selecting a winner.