Apple has slowly built its subscription service empire for everything from news and fitness to TV and cloud storage. But Apple has dragged its feet on podcasts, which is strange given that the company has popularized the creation and distribution of podcasts about [checks notes] 16 years ago. It looks like Apple is coming to a podcast subscription service, but it could create even more antitrust hassles for a company already affected by them.
Citing sources familiar with the subject, information reported on Friday that Apple is in talks to launch a paid subscription service for podcasts. It’s unclear how a subscription model would work, but reports said that charging a fee for specific podcasts could block the pockets of content creators and help attract talent, perhaps even away from existing platforms. Alternatively, if Apple were to pay for a premium version of its podcast app – let’s call it Podcasts + for now – they could group it with Apple One packages and use them to secure subscribers to other premium applications in its portfolio, such as Arcade or Apple Music.
Apple declined Gizmodo’s request for comment.
The talks may not be final and Apple may change its mind, according to reports. But there are certainly plenty of reasons to believe that Apple is moving in this direction. Apple has turned services into much of its product development in recent years, some with their own original content channels, just like Apple TV + and Fitness +. The company reportedly stepped up its efforts around the original podcasts last year, which were rumored to involve programming based on its TV + content, Bloomberg. reported then. Also he rushed Scout FM podcast cleaning tool last fall, and Apple has been it is said to have been among the companies that explored an acquisition of Wondery that was finally bought from Amazon.
But it would be a strange move for a company constantly involved in antitrust drama. Especially when it comes to Spotify – which would be one of the main competitors of a Podcasts + service – the company is potentially looking at relaunching a fight for years, which probably won’t help Apple’s position in other antitrust cases (although they primarily pursued its controversial App Store policies). And Apple knows it’s in hot water here, too. The company’s annual filing this month on uncertain terms acknowledged that its board of directors “regularly” reviews the company’s antitrust risks.
A podcast subscription would be a huge reversal of Apple’s historic approach to podcasts, which were the creators of podcasts. worried about just a few years ago. But again, a premium podcast app would fit perfectly with Apple’s product portfolio and could attract paid subscribers to its own app from those of its competitors. And the chance to launch yet another service may be too attractive for Apple to give up.
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