What you need to know
- Spotify now supports video podcasts in addition to audio podcasts and streaming music.
- The company has invested in the podcasts space, buying exclusive rights to The Joe Rogan Experience among others.
- Video podcasts will be made available wherever Spotify supports podcasts.
Spotify is now expanding into video podcasts, the company announced on Tuesday. It already hosts audio podcasts alongside its regular streaming library, but the inclusion of video will add a new dimension to an app mostly associated with sound.
Announcing the change, Spotify said:
Video podcasts build upon and enhance our existing audio experience, allowing Free and Premium users to connect more deeply with their favorite podcasts with video content. Listeners can tune into podcasts like Book of Basketball 2.0, Fantasy Footballers, The Misfits Podcast, H3 Podcast, The Morning Toast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan & Rachel Lindsay, and The Rooster Teeth Podcast for a visual and audio feast.
These video podcasts will be made available first for select podcasts, and listeners will be able to choose either in the desktop or mobile apps All of Spotify's regular music features like background audio and downloads will still work as normal.
While Google's YouTube Music doesn't offer podcasts support in the way Spotify does, any Premium user can gain access to a Spotify-like podcast experience for shows hosted on Google's video service.
On the other hand, Spotify has invested time and money into building up a strong offering of original podcasts, something even a relatively old hand like Apple hopes to mimic. While not exactly good for the traditionally non-publisher controlled space (especially as Spotify isn't exactly the best podcast-listening experience), it may still pay off strongly for creators in the short term.
