With more than one billion people using Google Play every month, there’s always something to watch, read, listen or play. And soon, you can add podcasts to that list. We’ll have more details to share in the coming months. For now, start uploading your podcasts at
g.co/podcastportal.
WHOA. Now true full integration for all my listening. Podcasts on the way to work, Google's Playlist while at work, my personal music during workouts after work, "Feeling Lucky" while at home. This, will be awesome (so long, Pocketcast).
ReplyDeleteYes to all of this.
DeleteKeep in mind that this actively requires the participation of the podcaster to upload their shows, unlike traditional podcast apps like Pocket Casts which is based on RSS feeds. That is, it is a service more like iTunes which will have its own ecosystem and will be subject to Google's control.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if they can garner the support of viewers and content creators alike. For me, this is one of the few times that my support is not in Google's direction; I just love Pocket Casts too much.
The service asks for an RSS feed when you sign up.
DeleteI think Alex means that the creator has to add the RSS feed to Google Music. Unlike Pocketcast which finds podcast RSS feeds without the creator having to add them to the app.
DeleteTechnically Pocket Casts mirrors/utilizes the iTunes directory API, to which you submitted your show at some point; this is no different. My hope is that Google can break the stronghold that Apple has on podcasts... iTunes is a broken piece of software (last time I checked it, ~1 year ago).
DeleteYeah, it will need RSS feed for me to leave Pocketcast. Because Pocketcast is freaking amazing! And if it requires people to upload to their own domain + google I think we will see a lot less Podcast appearing on Google Play, and then I'm staying with Pocketcast!
DeleteBut I would like Google to support RSS feeds as well. Would be nice to just have one app for listening to both Podcasts and Music.
Don't forget the biggest news that T-Mobile does not charge for Google Play streaming so this will get a lot of use on my commute! Love it, Google.
DeleteIs the Play Music app going to be a better podcast manager than Pocket Casts? I'm not so sure.
DeleteLove Pocket Casts, it's an app done well and when products are done well they will always survive :)
DeleteSome of you here are incorrectly comparing what Google is announcing here with what Pocket Casts is and does. Google's announcement is basically curation of podcasts built into Google Play Music. Pocket Casts does not do this. Pocket Casts is an RSS/XML client. Google is announcing a curation of podcasts that we all hope rivals what iTunes does with podcasts. Personally, I think Google just needs to acquire the Shifty Jelly team, bring in all of that tremendous talent, and let them work their magic on the Google Play Music app.
DeleteThe biggest thing is that from here on out there will be analytics for Android users, and this isn't the case for pocket casts. It's a great app but there is no way for content creators to see the Android usage numbers, no rating to help promote good podcasts and what not. This is going to be a great move I look forward to this change.
DeleteNice, thanks for making this happen! Don't forget the FrogPants Network!
ReplyDeleteGotta get the tadpool in there
DeleteGotta get the tadpool in there
Delete+1
Delete"Podcasters in the US".
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Why?
Agreed. WTF Google?! Podcasts are free, it's not like there is any commercial issue getting in the way. Just open it up to all! If we can't get international podcasts then this is a non-starter for me.
DeleteTotally agree. What excuses does Google have this time?
DeleteWhat is so hard about opening it up to EVERYONE INTERNATIONALLY!
DeleteI agree.. This time Google has no excuse.
DeleteI don't get it...
It is our fault for living in the rural backwaters of the world...
DeleteCome on Google, start being the global business you say you are.
I just started using a VPN for my phone and you could use one to spoof your connection as coming from the US by picking a server in the US, although it might only work when on WiFi connections.
DeleteThanks!. Is there a roadmap for LatAm? We have a huge community both listeners and producers. ;)
ReplyDeleteHope this is coming for UK Podcasters very soon
ReplyDeleteWhat is the reason for always using geodiscrimination?
ReplyDeleteI imagine it's due to differing laws, and different support models, etc. Or we can pretend it's malicious. :)
DeleteI'd put my money on regionally managed load balancing server's for the launch. When you don't know how much demand you'll have and how the software will behave under real world demand, it's better to start with your A team at a smaller scale.
DeleteJohn Kerbaugh - that is the most intelligent speculative answer here. Refreshing to hear after all the assumptions that Google is just maliciously choosing to leave out the rest of the world. I really get sick of that, so thank you sir.
DeleteAwesome. I've been searching for a good cross-platform podcast player since quite some time and I didn't wanna pay 3 times (cough * PocketCasts * cough) for it. Glad that GPM will fill that void.
ReplyDeleteCraziness, $3.99 for the Android App, $4.99 for the iPhone app, and $9 for the web app. $17.98 in total for me to have complete access. I guess its not too much, but damn... I feel like I'd be happier with a $2 a month or something, and they would make more money in the long run also. But thats just me, I like everything in subscription models.
DeletePlease add the ability to filter based on "dead" or not......so many podcast networks keep feeds forever and finding new podcasts to listen to that haven't already pod-faded can be a pain. At a minimum, keeping track of the last update date could be useful.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! It will need to have automatically updated custom playlists, of course, with the un-played episodes added as they are published and played episodes removed. If this is just a place to go play one-off episodes or a Google-curated playlist, it won't work for most podcast listeners.
ReplyDeleteAnd Europe, when?
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that countries that do not currently have Play Music will not get this?
ReplyDeleteyep :(
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ReplyDeleteWhat about the rest of the world, Google? We still don't get contextual playlists and youtube red, but you won't even give us podcasts? Why should we continue to pay for Play Music when you keep ignoring us?
ReplyDeleteMaybe its a big conspiracy to get you to move to the US.
DeletePretty frustrating that I can't add my podcast, http://FrankReactions.com/show, because I live in Canada, even though half my listeners are in the US!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend getting a US Google account just for the uploading.
DeleteNot helping - in my case i still get the restrictions for my country
Deletethnx is really cool ... i'm totally agree with the crew!
ReplyDeleteI hope enhanced podcasts will be supported.
ReplyDeleteAwesome..been waiting for this for ages!!
ReplyDeleteWould like to know when podcaster from outside the US can use this. Seems a bit odd.
ReplyDeleteWould like to know when podcaster from outside the US can use this. Seems a bit odd.
ReplyDeleteMaking progress feels good! Everything comes in stages, so we are just the first to be part of I'm confident it will open up worldwide as things keep building.
ReplyDeletePlease speak to the BBC and get their podcasts included, they make fantastic content!
ReplyDeleteI have uploaded my podcast PDAIS - http://profdave.libsyn.com/) and I am awaiting approval. I'm just curious as to how the shows will be sorted and how the feature to play podcasts according to listener needs will work. Hopefully the show producers will have some input
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the inclusion of education based content included. Would love to speak with the right people about having the Education Podcast Network included as a featured network. (www.edupodcastnetwork.com)
ReplyDeleteThere definitely needs to be a way for users to add a podcast's url to there own personal account. Otherwise good but less listened to podcasts will go completely unsupported and there will still be a need to have a separate podcast app to listen to those shows.
ReplyDeleteGot Dan Carlin, Earwolf and TWiT already? I'm sold!
ReplyDeleteAre any other podcasters having a hard time accessing the portal! I'm ready to jump in and submit my shows!
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to publish subscription podcasts (pay wall)?
ReplyDeleteWill this work with paid podcasts, like the older Hardcore History podcasts?
ReplyDeleteIf Google can create a ratings system or something that can match the importance of an iTunes review in the eyes of a podcast creator they'll be golden.
ReplyDelete"Podcasts are coming soon to Google Play Music, but unfortunately they're not yet available in your country. Check back for updates" Is this a joke? 10 years late on podcasts and when you do add them its US only?
ReplyDeleteLol you want a decent podcatcher stick to pocketcast, google almost NEVER does anything right the first time around, even with a proven formula that works they will still F it up some how. trust me, some feature that is really really important will get left out. straight away you fond the biggest flaw, US only. how many podcast you know that have regional restriction? its gonna probably come with some bullshit like no auto fetching or not automatically generating playlists for your podcast. trust me they are going to do it completely wrong and wont fix it for like 2 years after release Because everyone will be like Wow! google does podcasts now. Do you know how long it took for playbooks to have an offline dictionary? not to mention the features it still lacks
DeleteThis is great! Now if only you would let us hide the free radio stuff.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never. I developed my own solution to get my favourite podcasts in to Google Play Music but that might finally be able to be switched off when all the podcasts I listen to are allowed to register. I suspect that might take a while as I have them from all over the world. Russia, UK, US, Germany.
ReplyDeleteWill this functionality fully replace a 3rd party app like Pocketcasts or will it only serve as a radio station as we already know them on GPM?
ReplyDeleteWill this functionality fully replace a 3rd party app like Pocketcasts or will it only serve as a radio station as we already know them on GPM?
ReplyDeleteThis is great and offers an amazing solution for all of our valued Android listeners! I'll be submitting the Joblogues podcast to the network shortly! Kudos.
ReplyDeleteWill podcasters actually be able to HOST their audio files on Google Play or will Google Play just pull from an RSS feed/XML file for .wave or .mp3 files that are hosted elsewhere?
ReplyDelete"Podcasts are coming soon to Google Play Music, but unfortunately they're not yet available in your country. Check back for updates" Is this a joke? 10 years late on podcasts and when you do add them its US only?
ReplyDeleteHopefully Google enables a speed adjustment for playback. I listen to almost all my podcasts at X1.3
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. I listen to all at 2x speed (I have trained myself!) or 1.5x.
DeleteThis will be a must for me or I will be sticking with BeyondPod.
I hope so too. I listen to all at 2x speed (I have trained myself!) or 1.5x.
DeleteThis will be a must for me or I will be sticking with BeyondPod.
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ReplyDeleteGoogle please don't blow this up! Give us a good way to play podcast like ability to skip 5,10, and 30 seconds and can you please answer why haven't you introduced sound leveling and crossfade on Google play music? And another thing.... Don't limit my related artists to just 16 I want to discover ALL of the related artists similar to the music I like!
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ReplyDeleteThe YouTube for podcasts! Thus could easily beat apps like Stitcher which I'm not really a fan of but it's still arguably the best.
ReplyDeleteWhen will it be out for Canada. Want to upload my podcast as well.
ReplyDeleteUS only is super stupid.
ReplyDeletealso, I hope the android app is not limited to only listening to podcasts that have been uploaded to google.
"Podcasts are coming soon to Google Play Music, but unfortunately they're not yet available in your country. Check back for updates."
ReplyDeleteSo no podcast outside US (currently), and even no Google Play Music in my country (Hong Kong)
Whatever...
Yippee! TWIT on Google play. So excited!
ReplyDeleteYippee! TWIT on Google play. So excited!
ReplyDeleteYes wonderful .. thank you for this oportunity Google play .. sir Ed Dale
ReplyDeleteWhen will this segregation and discrimination end? :) :D
ReplyDelete"Podcasts are not available in your country" :(((
Missed Mann ki baat podcast
ReplyDeleteANDROID PROGRAMMER RESUME
ReplyDeletehttp://topjobssearchblog.blogspot.in/
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ReplyDeleteI love the idea of this, but the georestrictions are extremely disappointing.
ReplyDeleteGoogle reserves the right to serve post-roll video or audio ads after podcast content. Google Play Music does not provide direct payment or revenue share for podcast content.
ReplyDeleteNon starter for me. Also not the speech restrictions in the terms.
Does it sync playback between devices?
ReplyDeletewill this be a free service? or will you need to actively subscribe to google play music? Because right now I can listen to all my podcasts through any podcasting app without paying a fee. This is an important question for those of us that have already paid for podcasting apps.
ReplyDeleteWas waiting for this feature! I hope variable playback speed controls are added.
ReplyDeleteWill the service be available in Germany sometimes?
ReplyDeleteThis needs to be part of the Google Music app on the phone, and not just the Google Play Music service - so everyone who uses the Music app can add RSS feeds, then when the Play Music integration is rolled out, everyone is happy :)
ReplyDeleteAlso please don't forget variable speed playback.
What is the big deal with Google? Why can't US English podcasts based overseas be posted?
ReplyDeleteThis sucks!
so it looks like it will host the rss feed, not including the podcast files themselves?
ReplyDeleteThe main problem that remains to be solved is the disappearance of podcasts from their respective servers, which means that after a factory reset, no podcatching app will be able to load the podcast file EVEN IF IT'S STORED LOCALLY. This problem only exists for those of us who save podcasts for relistening (or listening later, after the original has been removed from its server). If Google Play Music can fix this by retaining the the file on its servers, I, for one, would be delighted.
ReplyDeleteThe only workaround has been to root the handset, run Titanium, which preserves the podcatching app's data settings so it can "find" the older files even if they're not on their respective servers any more.
While the two podcatchers I use have very elegant interfaces, they cannot avoid this shortcoming. I'm certainly not as fond of the Google Music i/o on my Android devices, but the exchange of persistence of files for i/o would be worth my while.
Great new addition. When can we use it in Europe?
ReplyDeletePlease add Distorted View Daily ASAP
ReplyDeleteI am really grateful to the android, as many of my artificial intelligence tools work on this device. I would like to get the updates about the various activities, how can I know?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the service will be offered to listeners around the globe or to US residents only. If it comes to Canada, I'm switching to this from rdio. A provider here has unlimited music streaming on various apps including Google Play Music.
ReplyDeletelooking forward to video podcasts... seems only a matter of time, right?
ReplyDeleteThis is huge, thank you Google. As a podcaster this is much appreciated and a big opportunity
ReplyDeletePodcasts, contextual playlists to Europe (Portugal).. When?
ReplyDeleteLow Profile with Richard Cason
ReplyDeletewww.richardcason.podomatic.com
I hope it will support password protected feeds like Distorted View!!
ReplyDelete