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Apple's Podcasts Just Topped 50 Billion All-time Downloads and Streams (fastcompany.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-far-we-have-come dept.

Apple launched podcasts on iTunes way back in 2005, the same year that the Oxford Dictionary named "podcast" its word of the year. A lot has changed since the early days when iTunes was mostly populated with The Ricky Gervais Show and an assortment of news podcasts repackaged from radio shows. From a report: These days, according to Apple, it is home to over 525,000 active shows, with more than 18.5 million episodes available, including content in over 100 languages. Its podcasts span the globe, covering 155 countries and, per Apple, "29 groupings of localized editorial." In short, if you feel overwhelmed with podcast content -- you're not alone. As content has grown, so has the fanbase: In 2014, there were 7 billion podcast downloads. In 2016, that number jumped to 10.5 billion. In 2017, it jumped to 13.7 billion episode downloads and streams, across Podcasts and iTunes. In March 2018, Apple Podcasts passed 50 billion all-time episode downloads and streams.

26 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Podcasts are the real television killer for me by alvinrod · · Score: 1

    I have a Netflix subscription, but I probably consume at least three times as much content through podcasts. There's far more variety in terms of content and while I don't think they'll replace all of television, I no longer see any point to late night television type shows where guest interviews only last a few minutes or there's 20 minutes of commercials in my 60 minutes program. There are even plenty of news focused podcasts that I think are vastly superior to what you find on Fox or CNN.

    1. Re:Podcasts are the real television killer for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I have a Netflix subscription, but I probably consume at least three times as much content through podcasts

      Me, I've never seen the point ... if I want information, I'd rather read it because I can ingest the information far faster in print.

      If I'm listening to the radio it's because it's in the background while I'm driving or in the shower.

      I've simply never been able to see the utility in a podcast. But then again, that is true for most of the crap on the interwebs these days.

    2. Re:Podcasts are the real television killer for me by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Podcasts are great for activities where your vision is occupied. Some of us we have long commutes to work. If you are commuting an hour one way either in the car or on mass transit, that's a lot of time to catch up. Also for me, if I need to get some work done, I put on headphones to block the office noise. I could listen to music or podcasts. If I'm cooking I can't or don't watch TV or videos but a podcast is fine.

      Also some podcasts are entertainment and in addition to information. If you have a hobby like fly fishing or quilting, there's probably a good podcast. Are you a Star Wars geek that needs to talk about The Last Jedi? There are gads of people who did and have podcasts about it. Do you love movies and don't know what to see this weekend? There's a podcast about that.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    3. Re:Podcasts are the real television killer for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I have had a fairly severe insomnia problem for most of my life. I've learned to live on a couple of hours sleep, because that's what I could get.
      I've always gone at least one night a week entirely without sleep.
      I have tried everything, including pharmaceutical solutions.
      About three years ago I discovered podcasts. I quickly fell in love with several series and started bingeing.
      Then within a few weeks I started falling asleep during my podcasts. It is now a regular nightly routine.
      My insomnia's not all gone, but I'm sleeping seven or eight hours a night at least three fourths of the time.
      I feel like it has improved every aspect of my life. I love podcasts!

  2. Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    He's only with us in spirit now, but Steve Jobs invented this ecosystem out of thin air. Without him, we'd still be using flip-phones designed at the whims of the carriers. It's amazing to look at a modern phone and compare it to the original iPhone. In form and function, not much difference. That is the simplest way to see how "right" Jobs got it. Rest in peace, sir.

    1. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      From what I read on Slashdot, it seems like a lot of people are still using Windows98 PC's. Or MAYBE they have updated begrudgingly to Windows 7. :-)

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    2. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I've still got my 2nd Gen, the 3G and it's still mostly working.

      The screen is good. All of the radios are bad. Originally Bluetooth and WiFi went out - some of my original motivation to switch to my first Android Phone, but the phone radio kept going for years. Now that the time is no longer correct I'm assuming that's gone too.

      As much as I make fun of iPhones now I really have to salute that 3G. Not only does it still power on and play music for my three year old every night (he loves Styx and goes to sleep to them - it's like giving him Benedryl without the ethical concerns, a trick we learned when he was five months old), the original factory battery still works. While I was sitting in the chair in his room last night and he and my wife were playing and getting ready for bed I played the Towers of Hanoi game I installed on it years ago - on battery. I don't know how long it will hold a charge, but I know it's at least an hour or two, maybe more. I've bought PlayStation 3 controls well after I bought that thing that have puffed up and stripped screws in the process. The JBL speaker dock I have it plugged into still works too.

      I don't want to praise the JBLs too much though, I also have the better version of that same dock that blew without a good reason a few months ago that was the same age, and my old speakers that held up for years suddenly blew a subwoofer last year - also without reason, I don't crank my music often. I dug out the subwoofer to see if it could be repaired or replaced and literally the entire soft part of the diaphram decayed like a dead bird outside over the past few months while sitting on the shelf. I'm assuming that's what happened to my dock also.

      --
      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    3. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      You'd be lucky to have "windows" at all if Jobs hadn't have invented the Mac. The Mac codified the modern GUI standards and functionality we take for granted nowadays.

      Exactly!

    4. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      He's only with us in spirit now, but Steve Jobs invented this ecosystem out of thin air. Without him, we'd still be using flip-phones designed at the whims of the carriers. It's amazing to look at a modern phone and compare it to the original iPhone. In form and function, not much difference. That is the simplest way to see how "right" Jobs got it. Rest in peace, sir.

      Great post!

    5. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      What?

      We're using one button mice? (because we're too stupid to for a second button?)

      Jobs stole the GUI (for the Lisa) from the same place Gates did (Xerox). Face facts.

      Modern GUIs have evolved and come from no single place. MacOS prior to X was architecturally very much inferior to all versions of NT, even 3.51 just blew it away. It was in a league with Amiga's OS.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    6. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      What?

      We're using one button mice? (because we're too stupid to for a second button?)

      Jobs stole the GUI (for the Lisa) from the same place Gates did (Xerox). Face facts.

      Modern GUIs have evolved and come from no single place. MacOS prior to X was architecturally very much inferior to all versions of NT, even 3.51 just blew it away. It was in a league with Amiga's OS.

      Are we STILL flogging the "One Button Mouse" and "Apple ripped-off Xerox" memes? REALLY?

      For the (HOPEFULLY!) Last Time EVAR:

      1. One button mice are provably easier for NOVICES to understand, especially back in 1980, when the Lisa was under Development, and almost NO ONE had ever seen a computer Mouse of ANY kind! Internally at Apple at that time, Jef Raskin wanted a FIVE button mouse; but usability studies conducted with NORMAL PEOPLE (not "Computer Priests") consistently showed that they had trouble with the concept of multi-button mice. So ONE it was... However, MacOS has actually had intrinsic support (and responds to) multi-button mice since at least (Classic) MacOS 8.0 was released in 1997. Sorry, I can't find a reference right now, but I know it was 8.0 or 8.1. And before that, Macs supported (and still do) Ctrl-Click.

      2. Apple paid Xerox 150 Million dollars in Stock Options for the Xerox Stuff. Gates, OTOH, simply COPIED the MacOS. He didn't bother going to Xerox and doing it "right". But whaddya expect from a guy whole basically STOLE the Code that became MS-DOS from Tim Patterson (NOT Gary Kildall) for a measly $50k. However, Tim Patterson had actually simply PLAGIARIZED Gary Kildall's CP/M, anyway...

      https://www.quora.com/Whats-th...

      3. And I agree that NT, which itself was half stolen from DEC's VMS, was superior in many ways to classic Mac OS; but it was also INferior in many ways, too.

    7. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      1. MacIdiots are too stupid for more than one button. Your not disagreeing with me. Clearly Mac OS initially got that wrong.

      2. Nonsense. Gates got it from Xerox, same a Jobs.

      3. Name one way NT was inferior? 3.51 was better in all respects, even the Windows 3 style UI.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    8. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      1. MacIdiots are too stupid for more than one button. Your not disagreeing with me. Clearly Mac OS initially got that wrong.

      2. Nonsense. Gates got it from Xerox, same a Jobs.

      3. Name one way NT was inferior? 3.51 was better in all respects, even the Windows 3 style UI.

      Intelligent Intercourse with you is impossible. This conversation is terminated.

      The AC was right. Your type doesn't belong on Slashdot.

    9. Re:Let's take a moment for reflection and thanks by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Poor little FakeTImCook got his ass handed to him, so he's going to run off and cry in Timmy Cook's apron!!! Suck it up, buttercup - you can't defend your position and your running away just confirms you're absolutely NOTHING but an Apple shill, with ZERO contribution to the society of /.

      That's your opinion, HornWumpus...

      Not only are my points backd up with facts and independent research; but My almost constant Mod Point awards say different about my contributions to /.

  3. THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    I'm trying Podcast Player - a generic enough name - it's got great reviews and I like the player itself, but the damned thing won't download a podcast without manual intervention despite that being what the program is for. I want to be able to ignore my phone at work all day and listen to the podcast it pulls in off of my companies WiFi while driving home without having to stop and think about it.

    I used to use a program specific to my podcast that would usually pull it in without intervention, but the built in player sucked (I like 150% playback speed so I can hear more of the show while driving). It could launch VLC which used to solve those issues, but modern Android VLC is supper buggy. If I get a phone call while listening to a podcast there's about a 60% chance it will forget it's spot and start me over at the beginning of the file.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    1. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by RevDisk · · Score: 1

      Pocket Cast is what I use. It has an optional account so you can tie info across multiple devices, which I like for both optional and good functionality.

      You can set auto-downloads. Mine is set up to warn me if I'm downloading off WiFi, which I also appreciate. It's not free, but at $4, just pay up. Extremely rarely have audio issues, and I near always have suspected it was the origin audio file rather than the player. It has an widget that works well enough. You can queue podcasts, which could be better but works well enough.

      Honestly, no real complaints.

    2. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by mcgett · · Score: 2

      Podcast Addict is what I have used for the laat few years. It has a free version with ads and a paid version without. Allows you to have global settings and individual settings as well that override the global. Auto plays/stoos with Bluetooth connect/disconnect as well as with headphone jack insertion/removal.

    3. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I'll try this one tomorrow.

      --
      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    4. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I'm trying this one now.

      So far so good, I've done some customization, I like the tweaking level. I'll make my real judgement when I initiate playback on the way home - hoping it actually has downloaded my podcast by then.

      --
      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    5. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by Dr.Dubious+DDQ · · Score: 1

      I'll second the vote for AntennaPod, the author seems to be doing a good job with it. It's even available in F-Droid. (Supports high-quality lower-bandwidth opus format, too, if you're on at least "Marshmallow" on Android.)

      --
      Hacker Public Radio is our Friend
    6. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I liked it yesterday. Today is the real test - it should be pulling in my podcast on it's own here in less than an hour, we'll see.

      I did like the manual configuration that was available, oddly the default manual time setting was AM only on the easy graphical interface. It did have an option to manually type it in also so I was able to put in 1740 instead of the 0540 it assumed.

      --
      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    7. Re:THREAD JACK! - good Android Podcast downloader? by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I'll have to take a look at this too. Supporting things like F-Droid gives it a real future to me. I really like my "Pure Android" phones, but I want to work my way away from Google all things considered. A good marketplace is a good way to make that happen.

      --
      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  4. What's the total for the torrent network? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    50 billion, that's cute...suckers.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  5. 525,000 ACTIVE podcasts? Crap! Now I will NEVER... by hardluck86 · · Score: 1

    ... catch up on my "Welcome To Nightvale" listening.

  6. Search Podcast Transcripts with FluidDATA by steve.mcdaniel · · Score: 2

    Like the article said...There are just a ton of Podcasts out there and it's hard to find things to look for. You can use FluidDATA to search millions of Podcasts by phrase or mention. That's right, searches are run against the full transcript of millions of audio files. You can check it out here: https://fluiddata.com/

  7. Re:Playing podcasts in itunes is a nightmare by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    The most likely explanation is: something is wrong in your set up, or the WiFi signal does not go thorough the walls.
    Sorry, it does not take to be a genius to figure something around you/your home is wrong, when we see that podcasts are obviously the most consumed digital thing on the planet.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.