Podnews Weekly Review

Apple turns on HLS video in Apple Podcasts and rewrites the business rules while keeping files with hosts. We unpack the listener experience, creator workflows, dynamic ads, costs, open standards, and what Spotify and YouTube might do next, with insights from Justin Jackson. • HLS explained and why it matters for control • What listeners get on iOS and when it ships • MP4 feeds versus HLS delivery trade-offs • Supported hosts at launch and why ad-tech drives it • Delivery metrics vs true attribution for advertisers • Apple’s per-ad tech fee and billing model • Rising CDN request costs and host pricing changes • Audio switching, manifests, and separate audio renders • Alternate enclosure for wider app distribution • Tags that should be next: person, location, live • Industry reactions from publishers and ad leaders • Live video, platforms, and monetisation experiments Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

(These show notes are using Buzzsprout's CoHost tool. Buzzsprout are our sponsor and very good at podcast hosting and all that.) We dig into YouTube’s rare revenue reveal, Spotify’s mixed ad picture, and why premium is rising fast. Tony Doe joins live from Lagos to unpack Nigeria’s podcast boom and what creators can learn. • Captivate hires Rob Walsh and Elsie Escobar for monetisation and creator community • YouTube discloses $60bn revenue and 1.7tn hours watched with strong subscription mix • Spotify hits 750m MAUs and 290m subs while podcast ad sales dip • Supercast acquired by Red Seat Ventures and premium models accelerate • Acast ad revenue grows and ARPL rises despite prior losses • Nigeria’s podcast index, formats, languages, and monetisation paths • Apple’s ranking “fairness” pledge and BBC’s new tech show • Transcripts as a standard, AI assistants, and discovery tools Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

Sam and James talk with Liam Heffernan of Mercury; and cover all the latest news of the week. • Sony’s AI character podcasts and voice licensing risks • Video discovery leading to audio loyalty and why it matters • IAB’s AI scraping proposal and good bot vs bad bot • Apple’s downloads for transcripts and chapters and host costs • Voice Regen vs Auphonic and Buzzsprout Magic Mastering • YouTube’s AI slop problem and weak enforcement • Apple buying QAI and the future of audio understanding • Livewire stats filtered for AI and broken trendlines • Spotify “down,” browser “up” and bots skewing analytics • OP3, unified dashboards, and realistic measurement • 34% ad loads training skip behavior and pricing for fewer ads • Subscriptions, ad-free tiers, and where to build fandom • Japan’s giant festival, Radio France’s indie curation, Disney and Hulu podcasts • Boost Box, LN address, and Runway for value-for-value Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We dig into Goalhanger’s funding, Wondercraft’s AI video workflows, music on open RSS with sats, TrueFans’ metrics-first hosting, and the growing gap between downloads and watch time. • Goalhanger’s community growth strategy with TCG investment • Shift from ad revenue to events, merch and TV formats • Community portals vs YouTube and Spotify constraints • Wondercraft’s audio-to-video workflows and enterprise use • Visualizing podcasts, editable AI timelines and avatars • Trials, discounts and API access for automation • Music on RSS with streaming sats and $1 hosting • TrueFans’ per‑MB pricing, listen time and bot costs • Spotify video’s measurement trade-offs and chapters • TV apps, watch time metrics and platform competition • Industry moves, awards, and market consolidation • On-device AI for transcripts and ad detection • Pricing shock, technical debt and clean redirects • Useful tools: analytics prefixes, music libraries and zaps Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

Sam has big news. Plus... (this description uses Buzzsprout's AI tool): We unpack the money and mechanics behind paid memberships, how platforms are reshaping podcast reach, and why quality and openness still matter. From Podfest honours to car dashboard wars, we map the shifting ground and share what creators should do next. • Goalhanger’s subscription economics and ad trade offs • Live festivals, community design and member retention • YouTube’s AI stance versus tool rollout • BBC’s YouTube programming strategy • Multi channel ranker data across audio, video and clips • Podcasts as quick context for breaking news • Spotify video’s measurement gap for rankers and ads • Cross app comments proposal and moderation • Merch in RSS and a simple store tag approach • Bot traffic, human first hosting and bandwidth costs • CarPlay, Android Automotive and dashboard control • New tools from Rode and Shure for creators • Awards season updates, people moves and events “You can support this show by streaming Sats, sending a super comment or boost, or becoming a power supporter at weekly.podnews.net” Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

Normally it's a nice quiet start to the year, but not this year! Sam and James look at the news we've already had so far this year. So much news, no tech stuff this week - that returns next week, along with your hosts being properly dressed. • iHeartRadio adds OpenRSS video and alternate enclosures • Netflix exclusivity versus open distribution trade-offs • Deloitte’s $5bn forecast and attention data contradictions • Spotify’s dynamic video sponsorships and platform fees • Spotify’s $10bn claim weighed against Apple’s quiet gains • YouTube ad effectiveness versus audio-only performance • Podtrac trends, RSS softness, and YouTube up 82% • The 2026 battle for RSS and open standards • Apple Podcasts features, defaults, and market power • Audio UK joins the Creative Industries Council • UK and US listening hours, completion, and plays • Bot traffic, download inflation, and verified metrics • Amazon’s merch play, funding tags, and timed links • People moves, jobs, awards, and global events You can support us at weekly.podnews.net Start podcasting, keep podcasting with Buzzsprout.com Get updated every day. Subscribe to our newsletter at podnews.net Tell your friends and grow the show. Support us and support us. Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We share five predictions each for 2026, from defining what a podcast is to why time spent listening will replace reach as the industry’s favorite metric. We weigh video’s upside against its risks for audio, call out AI slop, and back open RSS as the backbone of growth. We're back next week with our usual show. Please support us at weekly.podnews.net and click the support button Start podcasting, keep podcasting with Buzzsprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

James and Sam look back on our predictions for what 2025 would be like - and whether we got them right. Plus, our lowlights and highlights of the year. Send James & Sam a message C-Suite Perspectives Elevate how you lead with insight from today’s most influential executives. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

What happens when Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Acast, Adobe, Pocket Casts, Triton, Bumper, Transistor, creators, and analysts all compare notes on where podcasting just landed—and where it’s headed next? You get a clear picture of a medium that’s fully mainstream, proudly hybrid, and fiercely contested. We gathered 25+ voices to unpack 2025’s biggest shifts and lay down their boldest calls for 2026. Send James & Sam a message How Hacks Happen Hacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We track the biggest forces shaping podcasting next year: Goalhanger’s network effect, a pivot to listener-based analytics, and the tension between open RSS and closed “podcast” branding from big platforms. We dig into video hosting defaults, live streaming, and why honest metrics will decide winners. (It's a re-upload! With the intro.) • Apple’s Show of the Year milestone and Goalhanger’s model • Cross-promo and cadence as scalable growth levers • Flight Studio’s talent strategy versus brand synergy • Hall of Fame inductees and industry recognition • Creator retention, audio versus video habits, and practical focus • Fountain’s video hosting and sensible playback defaults • TrueFans roadmap for audio, video, and live with HLS • TikTok’s “podcasts” and why definitions drive ad budgets • Substack live streaming and platform convergence • Pod Analyst’s unified telemetry, retention curves, and sales clarity • Downloads versus unique listeners and consumption baselines • Bot and AI slop concerns and search downgrading • Libsyn price rises and market signals • Awards season, new events, and what’s ahead (This description is from Buzzsprout's CoHost AI, which is very good and are our sponsor). Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We track the biggest forces shaping podcasting next year: Goalhanger’s network effect, a pivot to listener-based analytics, and the tension between open RSS and closed “podcast” branding from big platforms. We dig into video hosting defaults, live streaming, and why honest metrics will decide winners. • Apple’s Show of the Year milestone and Goalhanger’s model • Cross-promo and cadence as scalable growth levers • Flight Studio’s talent strategy versus brand synergy • Hall of Fame inductees and industry recognition • Creator retention, audio versus video habits, and practical focus • Fountain’s video hosting and sensible playback defaults • TrueFans roadmap for audio, video, and live with HLS • TikTok’s “podcasts” and why definitions drive ad budgets • Substack live streaming and platform convergence • Pod Analyst’s unified telemetry, retention curves, and sales clarity • Downloads versus unique listeners and consumption baselines • Bot and AI slop concerns and search downgrading • Libsyn price rises and market signals • Awards season, new events, and what’s ahead (This description is from Buzzsprout's CoHost AI, which is very good and are our sponsor). Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

(This is made with AI from our sponsor, Buzzsprout) We break down the Recap Apocalypse across Spotify, YouTube, Apple, and Amazon, then dig into craft with Brad Mielke on how Start Here reached 2,000 episodes by prioritising clarity, titles that pull, and audio-first production. Data meets discipline and the result is steady growth without burnout. • Spotify’s Creator Wrapped as a real growth tool • YouTube’s US-only charts and watch-time logic • Apple Replay and Amazon Delivered compared • Why hosts should build their own year-in-review • Start Here’s daily format and guest booking tactics • Titles that drive plays and timely packaging • News avoidance, constructive journalism, balance • Audio-only discipline vs video tradeoffs • UK podcast charts and creator ad spend signals • iOS auto-chapters and timed links for navigation • V4V, boosts, and payment standard progress • New tools, APIs, and analytics experiments Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

(This description is produced by our sponsor Buzzsprout's CoHost AI tool). We cut through the download delusion and show how people, playback, and time spent reveal true growth. Dan Misener explains loyalty metrics, we test platform tactics, and we share simple ways to turn spikes into steady listeners. • people numbers, playback intent, and time spent as core metrics • loyalty as repeat listening, short‑term vs lifetime signals • diagnosing new listener vs returning listener problems • tactics to lift retention: teases, tighter intros, linked back catalog • autoplay spikes vs durable audience growth • Patreon’s free RSS hosting and premium access options • Overcast hiding promos and reruns, impact on revenue • Pocket Casts playlists and improved search for discovery • PSO benchmarks and the value of reviews • community boosts, feedback, and hosting updates Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Subscribe to our newsletter at podnews.net Tell your friends and grow the show Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

Three new hosting moves land at once: Riverside adds hosting to its recording and editing suite, RSS.com launches a true free plan for local and niche shows, and PodToo Cloud targets developers with storage, CDN, and analytics built for media. • Riverside’s all‑in‑one workflow promise - we interview Kendall Brietman • RSS.com’s Free Local And Niche plan mechanics and upgrade paths • PodToo Cloud’s S3‑compatible stack, CDN, and engagement‑focused analytics - we interview Russell Harrower • Apple country charts, plays vs downloads, and what a “play” likely means • Hosts that block redirects and why ownership of your feed matters • Diversity data across genres and why discovery and tooling still bias outcomes • Audio’s share of consumption vs video’s discovery role • Australia’s cross‑app Audio ID and privacy implications • Tech corner: VTT captions in web players, JSON‑LD linking, Apple vs Index feed hygiene Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Find Riverside’s walkthrough at riverside.com LLMs are bullshitters: but can be useful - a good read https://blog.kagi.com/llms Weekly supporters: become a Power Supporter at weekly.podnews.net Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We break down TikTok’s podcast network with iHeart, Netflix’s audio push, and whether video is worth the cost, then dig into research on clips, companion podcasts, and the ad shift between radio and on‑demand. Sari Azut joins to show how a screenshot becomes a shareable clip and useful attention data. • TikTok’s entry into podcasting and censorship concerns • iHeart’s finances, radio softness, and podcast growth • E‑commerce links, music discovery, and TikTok Shop • Netflix’s short deals, UI changes, and exclusivity trade‑offs • Data on clips failing to convert long‑form listens • Companion podcasts that drive streaming subscriptions • Radio and podcasts sold together via local and programmatic • Video’s 77% cost lift per attention hour • Indie monetisation realities and small‑show strategies • Micropayments, wallets, and adoption barriers • Overcast embracing key podcasting tags • Podcast Magic’s screenshot‑to‑clip workflow and insights • App updates, RSS presentation, and standards proposals Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Subscribe now at podnews.net If you want to get on and give us your predictions, then weekly.podnews.net is where you can become a power supporter and share your predictions with the world Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

(This is an AI description from Buzzsprout's Cohost) We test Netflix’s “video podcast” land grab, then show why Apple’s AI chapters and Timed Links are the practical upgrade creators needed. DAX’s Brian Conlan joins to explain why audio’s problem is ROAS, not downloads, and how better measurement unlocks bigger budgets. • Netflix licensing moves and YouTube exclusivity trade-offs • Why this is cheap TV, not podcasting, and why that matters • Audio vs video consumption and where value really sits • Apple AI chapters, Timed Links, and transcript expansion • Chapters JSON, ID3, and episode notes pros and cons • Does Apple make ad skipping easier or ads better • DAX on attribution, ROAS, and harmonised standards • Spotify’s earnings, video spin, and creator payouts • Libsyn ends The Feed; Podcast 411 returns • Fireside Chat closes; Fox acquires Meet Cute • LN address vs keysend and easier listener payments • HLS, listen-time data, and ad effectiveness • New tools: Podcast Magic and Snipd for smarter notes Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We unpack a bold true crime breakthrough: RNZ uses AI to recreate a deceased inmate’s voice with family consent and full disclosure, elevating the investigation without faking facts. We also dive into video on the TV screen, premium RSS, and why co‑host chemistry beats guest fatigue. • Spotify adds video podcasts to Apple TV • YouTube AI upscales low‑res video and adds QR shopping • RNZ’s NARC uses 11Labs with ethics review and consent • Why AI voice can be more transparent than actors • Fountain hosting launches with open RSS and alt enclosures • Premium RSS and Lightning versus card fees • Streaming metrics for plays, listen time, and completion • Interview saturation and the rise of host‑led formats • China’s credential rule for sensitive creator topics • Acast profitability and ARPL growth • MrBallen’s SiriusXM deal and YouTube ad sales • Bending Spoons buys AOL and raises prices playbook • Layoffs across media and YouTube AI reorg • OP3 bot spikes and practical filtering • Stablecoins, MasterCard, and future micropayments • Adobe’s licensed AI audio for safer commercial use • Ad measurement with Audio Pixel and real attribution Start podcasting, keep podcasting with Buzzsprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We track Edison Research’s sale to SSRS, Spotify’s TV distribution push, and whether video truly grows podcast audiences. We debate Oxford Road’s new ad-performance ranker, membership models that creators can own, and the messy state of podcast standards. • SSRS acquires Edison Research and keeps the team • Edison’s people-based ranker shows stable top shows and fast risers • Spotify expands via Samsung TV Plus and Netflix distribution • Netflix’s background audio and auto limitations challenge podcast UX • BBC data on modest incremental reach from video • Oxford Road’s ORBIT ranks shows by ad effectiveness • Ads vs attribution debate and what “works” really means • Supporting Cast enables owned subscriptions and ad-free feeds • Standards frustration: PSP process, adoption gaps, taxonomy needs • OpenStreetMap-powered location tag enables richer discovery • AWS outage highlights platform dependence and resilience Start podcasting, keep podcasting with Buzzsprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

We break down the Netflix–Spotify pact to move select video podcasts off YouTube, weigh the real winners, and ask whether exclusivity helps or harms creators. We also challenge Apple’s ad‑free push, share data on when people actually listen, and explore practical tools that make podcasts easier to find and love. We'd have had ChadF on this week for an interview, but technology let us down. Sorry. • Why Netflix and Spotify align on video podcasts • What leaving YouTube means for Ringer fans • Apple’s ad‑free Series Essentials and who pays the price • YouTube’s playbook for chapters, titles, comments • Midday listening peaks and what to publish when • AI voices, trust, and the “missing middle” of ads • Location tags, standard icons, and better UX • Overcast’s download fixes and transcript support • Community boosts, gamification, and feedback loops Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net

Flightcast’s Rox Codes joins us to unpack a video-first hosting and growth platform built for YouTube, Spotify, and serious creators, while we challenge inflated web “browser” downloads, pricing resets, and what actually counts as a podcast in a $3B market. We weigh useful AI assistants against synthetic co-hosts, and map the road to practical standards like HLS and Podcasting 2.0. • livewire host-share data showing consolidation and heritage brands sliding • price rises at major hosts and how AI features drive bundled costs • web player download spikes likely from bots, scrapers, and cloud IPs • what Flightcast publishes where and why video-first matters • AI analytics assistant for multi-platform, time-bounded insights • clip experimentation on separate channels to validate winners • storage choices enabling future video RSS and richer search • podcasting 2.0 tags for chapters and transcripts on the roadmap • why HLS needs shared best practices before broader adoption • Global Studios’ video push and creator acquisitions • the $3B ad forecast and the definition problem of “podcast” • Apple’s Podroll video promos UX quirks and limits • soundbites, playlists, and underused standards for discovery • creator tools: Audacity redesign and Whisper.cpp speed gains • a human-first stance on AI: assist, don’t replace Start podcasting, keep podcasting with BuzzSprout.com Send James & Sam a message Support the show Connect With Us: weekly@podnews.net@james@bne.social@samsethi@podcastindex.socialwww.buzzsprout.com/1538779/supportpodnews.net