Facebook is gearing up to launch its own podcast platform later this month. Facebook’s podcasts feature will launch June 22, an attempt by the social media giant to muscle in on the incredibly popular and fast-growing podcast market.
Facebook confirmed the news in an email to podcast page owners, seen by The Verge. Users will be able to listen to podcasts directly on Facebook, as well as via a new podcasts tab that has yet to launch. Facebook is also working on a feature that will let listeners create clips from their top shows.
“Facebook will be the place where people can enjoy, discuss, and share the podcasts they love with each other,” Facebook said in its email to creators.
Facebook’s push into podcasting
The Verge reports that:
“Along with the option to distribute their show through Facebook, podcasters can decide whether to enable clips, which the company says will be created by listeners and last up to one minute in length. These ‘may help increase visibility and engagement.’ Presumably, these will be easily shareable outside of the podcaster’s page. Short-form clips have been a key way for Twitch streamers to share moments from their lengthy streams, and Facebook seems to hope the same idea can apply to podcasts.”
Facebook has been making a concerted push toward audio. This week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg hosted the first Live Audio Room, Facebook’s new Clubhouse clone.
Facebook’s purpose with its podcast push is likely to give users a way to enjoy a form of content many listen to without having to leave Facebook to do it. It comes at a time when other big tech companies, Apple included, are ramping up their podcast focus. Apple this week launched Apple Podcast Subscriptions, letting content creators charge for podcasts. Spotify also continues to invest heavily in all things podcasting.
Source: The Verge
