Google is shutting down its Podcasts app and service and is encouraging users to migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2, 2024. After this date, users based in the US will no longer be able to stream podcasts from Google Podcasts. However, he needs until July to export the subscription.
The Google Podcasts app was installed more than 500 million times on Android devices around the world, providing a simple interface to search, follow, and listen to podcasts. However, as part of Google's plan to centralize its audio services to YouTube, the company announced in September 2023 that it would begin winding down its podcast app in early 2024.
Google is currently sending an in-app notification to US users informing them of the April 2 deadline and encouraging them to export their subscriptions to YouTube Music. The company says moving podcasts to YouTube is in line with user behavior and preferences, as data shows podcast listeners have higher engagement on YouTube compared to podcast apps.
Although YouTube Music provides basic podcast listening functionality, some Google Podcasts users find it lacking in features compared to the dedicated app. YouTube Music lacks podcast-specific search and sorting filters, as well as dedicated discovery and management features found in Google Podcasts, so it may seem too big for users who prefer a streamlined podcast listening experience. .
Google Podcasts allows users who prefer an alternative platform to download the RSS feed of their subscribed shows and upload it to another service that supports the OPML file format. This option provides flexibility for those who want to continue using a dedicated podcast app.
The April 2 deadline only applies to users in the United States, but Google plans to shut down its podcast app and service worldwide in 2024. As the company makes this transition, users around the world will need to adapt to a new podcast environment within the Google ecosystem.
The move to consolidate its podcast efforts under YouTube could help Google become a bigger player in the space, especially as interest in video podcasts continues to grow. The move is similar to the company's strategy in 2020, when it migrated music listeners from Google Play Music to YouTube Music ahead of the shutdown.
The Google Podcasts app was installed more than 500 million times on Android devices around the world, providing a simple interface to search, follow, and listen to podcasts. However, as part of Google's plan to centralize its audio services to YouTube, the company announced in September 2023 that it would begin winding down its podcast app in early 2024.
Google is currently sending an in-app notification to US users informing them of the April 2 deadline and encouraging them to export their subscriptions to YouTube Music. The company says moving podcasts to YouTube is in line with user behavior and preferences, as data shows podcast listeners have higher engagement on YouTube compared to podcast apps.
Although YouTube Music provides basic podcast listening functionality, some Google Podcasts users find it lacking in features compared to the dedicated app. YouTube Music lacks podcast-specific search and sorting filters, as well as dedicated discovery and management features found in Google Podcasts, so it may seem too big for users who prefer a streamlined podcast listening experience. .
Google Podcasts allows users who prefer an alternative platform to download the RSS feed of their subscribed shows and upload it to another service that supports the OPML file format. This option provides flexibility for those who want to continue using a dedicated podcast app.
The April 2 deadline only applies to users in the United States, but Google plans to shut down its podcast app and service worldwide in 2024. As the company makes this transition, users around the world will need to adapt to a new podcast environment within the Google ecosystem.
The move to consolidate its podcast efforts under YouTube could help Google become a bigger player in the space, especially as interest in video podcasts continues to grow. The move is similar to the company's strategy in 2020, when it migrated music listeners from Google Play Music to YouTube Music ahead of the shutdown.
