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cover of episode How Apple Shaped Podcasting

How Apple Shaped Podcasting

2024/8/28
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On the Media

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
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M
Michael Loewinger
M
Molly Rosen
R
Rob Walsh
Topics
Michael Loewinger:播客行业在过去一年半经历了裁员、节目取消和收入减少等问题,但近几个月有所稳定。苹果Podcast App的更新导致自动下载减少,加剧了行业问题,导致下载量下降,进而影响广告收入。苹果公司对播客行业的发展起到了关键作用,需要深入了解其影响。 Molly Rosen:不可能不提及苹果来讲述播客的发展史。苹果Podcast App的更新改变了播客下载方式,对创作者影响很大。在2000年代初期,苹果公司员工Kevin Marks尝试解决互联网音频和视频流媒体的问题,因为早期互联网带宽有限,无法支持大型音频和视频文件的流媒体传输。Kevin Marks对音频博客很感兴趣,并关注了Adam Curry的Daily Source Code播客。“Podcast”一词由《卫报》记者创造,Adam Curry和Dave Weiner提出了通过RSS Feed发送音频文件的理念。Kevin Marks编写了一个脚本,可以将播客下载到iTunes并同步到iPod,这改变了播客的收听方式。2005年苹果将播客整合到iTunes中,是播客发展的一个重要转折点。苹果的播客目录对播客行业至关重要,如果没有苹果,这一切都不可能实现。苹果支持播客是为了促进iPod的销售,因为在很多国家,他们还没有获得音乐版权,而播客拥有全球通用的版权。 Rob Walsh:iTunes、iPhone和iOS 8的原生播客应用是播客发展史上的三个重要转折点。iOS 8原生播客应用的推出促进了播客的增长,而Android系统则没有类似的应用。目前,大部分播客下载都来自Apple Podcasts App。一个合格的播客必须在Apple Podcasts中。虽然苹果对播客行业有很大的影响力,但目前并没有表现出要控制播客标准的意图。苹果从播客中获得的收入很少,这使得苹果不太可能试图控制播客行业。只要苹果继续支持播客,并且不将其作为盈利中心,播客行业就会保持良好发展。播客的技术发展相对简单,并且延续至今,RSS和MP3的组合恰好适合播客的特性,并延续至今。播客技术的发展相对偶然,由技术人员解决分发问题,并由苹果公司推广,最终形成了一个开放的生态系统。 Michael Loewinger: 播客行业在经历了动荡之后,目前状况趋于稳定,但苹果Podcast应用的更新对播客创作者带来了新的挑战,导致下载量下降和广告收入减少。 Molly Rosen: 播客的兴起与苹果公司密不可分,从iTunes的整合到iPhone和iOS系统的原生支持,苹果公司在播客的普及和发展中扮演了关键角色。苹果公司最初支持播客可能也与促进iPod销售有关,但目前来看,苹果公司在播客生态系统中扮演的是一个相对开放和中立的角色。播客技术本身相对简单,基于RSS和MP3的组合,这使得它能够保持相对开放的生态系统。 Rob Walsh: 苹果的Podcast应用仍然是播客行业的主导力量,大部分播客下载都来自该平台。虽然其他平台也在发展,但苹果应用的优势地位依然难以撼动。苹果公司从播客中获得的收入相对较少,这从某种程度上保证了它不会过度干预播客行业的发展。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The podcasting industry faced challenges with layoffs, cancellations, and shrinking revenue. An update to Apple's podcast app further impacted downloads, causing concern for creators due to potential ad revenue loss. This raises questions about Apple's influence on the podcasting industry.
  • Apple's software update changed how podcast downloads work.
  • Overall downloads across the industry were down 15% as of February.
  • This American Life lost 20% of their downloads.
  • Some NPR shows saw a 30% dip in downloads.

Shownotes Transcript

A recent update to the Apple podcast app also included a tweak to how podcast downloads work. As a podcast user you’re free to shrug and move on. But for podcast creators this could be a big deal. According to data from Podtrac, overall downloads across the industry were down 15 percent as of February.  This American Life lost 20 percent of their downloads. Some shows at NPR saw a 30 percent dip. In this week's midweek podcast, OTM producer Molly Rosen looks at how Apple has shaped the podcast industry.

 

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