Apple opens up Podcast uploading to rival services. Apple just removed one of the barriers to delivering podcasts on its platform compared to rivals: Through the new Delegated Delivery feature, podcasters can now generate an API key via Apple Podcasts Connect to share with hosting providers so they can publish podcasts on their behalf.
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At launch, this feature supports Blubrry, Libsyn, Omny Studio, and RSS.com alternative hosting services, but more are expected to be added later this year, including Acast, Buzzsprout, and ART19.
The problem solved
Until recently, if podcast authors wanted to publish their episodes on multiple platforms, they could easily do it anywhere except Apple: the company required audio files to be uploaded separately, so it became necessary to upload the same files at least twice.
Now you always have to sign up for the Apple Podcaster program, but at least once done you can select an alternative platform as a host service and manage everything from a single dashboard: at that point anything published on the external platform will automatically end up on Apple Podcasts too without needing to do something else.
An advantage also for Apple
This not only simplifies the work of podcasters but will allow the company to increase profits because – they say – it will make it easier than ever to “launch and grow shows and subscriptions on Apple Podcasts”.
Apple’s podcast subscription service went live in June 2021, and in August last year, the company said paid subscriptions had grown 300% since then. We don’t know how many subscribers there are, nor do we know the exact number of podcasts that have joined the new subscription service: in fact, Apple has more generally indicated that over a quarter of the first 100 shows listed in the “Top Shows” ranking provide an option subscription.
