Spotify takes aim at YouTube in battle for podcasts: WSJ


By Xia Lin
  • World
  • Thursday, 14 Nov 2024

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- As fans increasingly flock to videos of star hosts interacting with their guests during interviews, Swedish audio streaming and media service provider Spotify wants to persuade more podcasters to make videos for its own platform in addition to U.S. streaming giant YouTube, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday.

Spotify plans to start paying hosts who make popular videos and meet a certain viewing threshold, and will soon offer premium subscribers a way to watch shows such as "The Joe Rogan Experience" and "Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain" without ads. It currently allows hosts to upload podcast videos, but doesn't offer such payments.

While Spotify is home to some of the most listened-to podcasts, there are signs that its dominance in the exploding medium is waning as more listeners watch, or listen to, their favorite shows on YouTube. The Google-owned platform has become a central part of many young people's entertainment diet and shares ad revenue with creators who post videos, which incentivizes them to post ever more content.

Beginning in January, Spotify plans to offer premium subscribers in the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada ad-free viewing of video podcasts.

"It is betting that the uninterrupted experience coupled with its powerful discovery algorithms will drive greater consumption of video podcasts on the platform," said WSJ. "The offering, which takes out ads inserted into episodes but would leave host-read messages, could also differentiate Spotify's podcast videos from those on YouTube, where users have to pay more for ad-free viewing."

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Kyiv accuses Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missile attack
Greece's Socialist PASOK becomes main opposition after leftist party collapse
Man arrested in investigation into 2022 Irish blast that killed 10, law firm says
WHO chief hospitalized in Rio de Janeiro, report says
Kenya investigating how Uganda opposition figure was 'abducted'
In Spain's Canaries, rescuers exhausted as new migrant routes open
Russia is ready to consider any 'realistic' Ukraine peace initiative, says Foreign Ministry
Serbia arrests 11 over railway station roof collapse
Russia says new US base in Poland raises overall nuclear danger
Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile in attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says

Others Also Read