Google is shutting down its Podcasts app within the U.S. in a matter of days. The corporate has begun warning the app’s customers they might want to migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2 to observe and stream their favourite exhibits going ahead. Customers who don’t make the transfer instantly will nonetheless have extra time emigrate, however will now not be capable of stream from the Podcasts app straight after this date.
The Google Podcasts app, put in over 500 million times on Android gadgets globally, for over half a decade has provided a easy and streamlined interface for locating, following, and listening to podcasts, in addition to instruments so as to add podcasts by RSS feed. Sadly for followers of the app, the tech large said last September it might start to wind down the Podcasts app in early 2024 as a part of its broader plan to centralize its audio companies below YouTube.
In 2020, YouTube Music provided an identical transition technique to move music listeners away from Google Play Music ahead of its shutdown that very same 12 months. Nevertheless, the Google Podcasts app continued to be maintained for years as a result of YouTube Music wasn’t able to assist podcasts till extra not too long ago. By the tip of 2023, YouTube Music was capable of assist podcasts globally, and, by February, that they had the flexibility to upload their RSS feeds, too.
The transfer to shift podcasting over to YouTube might assist Google to develop into an even bigger participant within the area, not solely by combining its efforts and sharpening its focus, but in addition as a result of curiosity in video podcasts — which had been already widespread on YouTube — is on the rise. This week, for instance, Spotify forged a deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) to deliver video podcasts to U.S. customers of its streaming app after earlier in March announcing tests of video podcasts in 11 different markets world wide.
Bleeping Computer was the primary to note the shutdown date for Google Podcasts within the U.S., and a support page on Google’s site confirms that customers within the U.S. will solely be capable of use the Podcasts app by means of the tip of March 2024. For many who miss the in-app pop-ups, Google will provide customers extra time to avoid wasting their subscriptions by permitting them to make use of the app’s export function by means of July 2024.
Google didn’t instantly return a request for remark. From its earlier statements, although, the plan is to discontinue Google Podcasts in 2024.
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