Google podcasts is shutting down

by craigon 12/19/2023, 3:59:15 PM with 36 comments
  • by pvgon 12/19/2023, 4:14:27 PM

    Discussed at length a week or so ago:

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38573378

    and a couple of months ago

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37659482

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37664710

  • by vecplaneon 12/19/2023, 4:12:31 PM

    YouTube is effectively a Google Podcasts platform already.

    Paying for YouTube Premium to avoid ads is some of the best money I spend each month. I wish I could do the same for Spotify podcast ads. I do pay for Spotify already to avoid ads in music, but I can't seem to avoid them for the Joe Rogan Experience.

  • by paxyson 12/19/2023, 4:21:10 PM

    The entire podcasts industry seems to be on a downward spiral. I feel like the days are numbered for Spotify's podcast dreams as well, looking at how little they are promoting them now in app or outside. What on earth happened? It was the hottest new thing in media, and then...everyone just collectively lost interest? Was it just the Covid bubble, or something else?

  • by notRoboton 12/19/2023, 4:14:16 PM

    Open source alternative on Android:

    Antennapod:

    https://antennapod.org/

    https://antennapod.org/download/

    Available on Google Play and F-Droid. I switched to it many years ago anticipating this exact Google product shutdown, and I've been very happy with it :)

  • by nerdjonon 12/19/2023, 4:26:14 PM

    While I am sure this is likely to push people towards YouTube premium subscriptions, I feel like Podcasts are unique in the way they are consumed that they need a dedicated app.

    Otherwise we end up with either a bloated YouTube app or an even more confusing "Youtube Podcasts" app (then YouTube music, YouTube videos, and YouTube whatever google decides to abandon next).

    Would be a good time for Apple to maybe advertise Apple Podcasts some more.

    Edit: Also why isnt this migration just done for you? So your data is there if/when you decide to try youtube podcasts.

  • by infamouscowon 12/19/2023, 4:23:45 PM

    It's fitting Podcast Index is eating big tech's lunch.

    https://podcastindex.org/

  • by dopeboyon 12/19/2023, 4:15:23 PM

    Damn, I just discovered it 4 days ago. It is excellent, with zero cruft. Looks like I'll need to use Apple Podcasts.

  • by matthewfelgateon 12/21/2023, 8:34:09 AM

    When I first heard this news I started using https://pocketcasts.com/ which I have been very happy with. In case anyone else was looking for a Google Podcasts alternative.

  • by pelagicAustralon 12/19/2023, 4:14:01 PM

    "Google Podcasts is going away [...]"

    > https://www.theverge.com/23891397/google-podcasts-youtube-sp...

  • by andyjohnson0on 12/19/2023, 4:17:26 PM

    The link is 404ing. Suggest https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/podcast-destination-on-... instead.

  • by verdvermon 12/19/2023, 4:12:47 PM

    This is a product consolidation more than a discontinuation

  • by throw7on 12/19/2023, 4:34:13 PM

    Migrate your podcast shows from Google Podcasts (US Only ): https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/249139848?sji...

    I haven't decided where to migrate to, but it's definitely NOT Youtube Music.

  • by graypeggon 12/19/2023, 4:19:15 PM

    There's no good common category beyond just "sound media" for music and podcasts I think. They play together on radio obviously, but there's something weird to me about them sharing the same app. The sorting, filtering, playback controls, and presentation all feels like its too different.

    Seems to be the way the big tech music apps are going though.

  • by maxgluteon 12/19/2023, 4:33:19 PM

    Is youtube finally going to raise playback speed up to 3x from 2x? Feels like every popular podcast and audiobook player supports at least 3x now, it's not some niche feature. That alone makes youtube useless as a podcast platform for me. On the other hand, sponsorblocking podcasts... chefs kiss.

  • by wing-_-nutson 12/19/2023, 4:27:00 PM

    sigh

    I started using google podcasts because beyondPod started acting weird. Guess I'm going back because there's absolutely* no way I'm moving to youtube music given their ads.

  • by crossroadsguyon 12/19/2023, 6:02:35 PM

    I think we will remember back podcasts as one of those nice things that we collectively didn't pay for. Hell, even Googles and Spotifies are giving up.

  • by pelagicAustralon 12/19/2023, 4:09:46 PM

    I get a robot, sans one arm, and "Sorry, this page can't be found."

  • by worksonullon 12/19/2023, 4:16:51 PM

    Does that mean that they will merge podcasts into YouTube Music? I don't mind, one app instead of two, but ytmusic needs some UI work

  • by CamelCaseNameon 12/19/2023, 4:16:05 PM

    Broken link?

  • by iambatemanon 12/19/2023, 4:30:56 PM

    Google team, we need to talk.

    Your reputation has fallen among many developers for a lack of long-term commitment to anything.

    Could you please get your executives in a room and figure out everything else that needs to sunset in the next two years? It’s fine for a product to run its course but the endless paper cuts of sunsetting announcements is getting old.

    Once you figure out what needs to get cut, just make a big reset announcement and commit to supporting everything else for a decade.

    It will take a couple years for us to believe you but better late than never.

    Until then, we have to assume that everything is on the chopping block or at risk of 300% price increases.

    You can do better.

  • by tkiolp4on 12/19/2023, 4:20:49 PM

    Google as a brand is something I don’t trust anymore.

    - cloud? You’re far better at aws than gcp

    - email? Got my life-long gmail account blocked for no reason. I’m using icloud+ and custom domain now. I have a dummy gmail account just in case

    - drive? I don’t trust my gmail account so, I cannot trust drive either

    - search? Guilty. I’m still using it, but less and less

    - youtube? Annoying af with ads. I don’t bother with blockers

    - phones? Nexus 5 was great. It lasted me 4 good years. Nowadays if I want good quality I go to apple

  • by 2bluescon 12/19/2023, 4:12:40 PM

    I remember thinking this shutdown was inevitable when they launched it... And never used it.

    Google has created a self fulfilling prophecy.

  • by tambourine_manon 12/19/2023, 4:25:14 PM

    Google is in such a downwards spiral these days. Either commit to your new endeavors or focus on your existing products. Instead, they keep randomly throwing things at the wall. No wonder it fails. It just hurts their brand.

  • by devinon 12/19/2023, 4:27:34 PM

    OK, I'm done.

    I need to migrate my email from gmail. It's going to be long and arduous. Suggestions on providers?

    Before you ask: No, I do not want to host my own mail.

  • by forshowon 12/19/2023, 4:08:46 PM

    And the joke keeps on running

  • by ilrwbwrkhvon 12/19/2023, 4:10:24 PM

    [flagged]

  • by Glenchon 12/19/2023, 6:33:43 PM

    [flagged]

  • by tjpnzon 12/19/2023, 4:24:30 PM

    [flagged]

  • by Cwizardon 12/19/2023, 4:15:42 PM

    Can anyone explain why? I see almost no downside in keeping it running? Infra costs must be minor, there is no licensing costs, it’s a simple app so I would assume very little developer cost.

    The upside is that Android can come with a ‘native’ podcast player. Just like iOS comes with a native player.

    A big downside with shutting it down is that it reinforces the idea that Google products are eventually killed so don’t rely on them.

  • by AISnakeOilon 12/19/2023, 4:11:28 PM

    [flagged]

  • by colesantiagoon 12/19/2023, 4:16:33 PM

    [flagged]

  • by benf76on 12/19/2023, 4:28:51 PM

    Big tech war on RSS / open protocols. Podcastindex.org is the future and response to this. Get off big tech support podcastapps.com