As you probably know, YouTube is hype for podcasts.
In case you didn’t know: YouTube is hype for podcasts.
How hype? Like, willing to pay podcasters $300,000 to upload video versions of their shows hype. And putting together an 84-page pitch deck to sell podcast publishers on its vision for the future of audio hype.
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And, apparently, launching YouTube.com/podcasts hype.
As 9to5Google first reported, YouTube has officially launched a dedicated Explore page for podcasts. That puts its podcast ambitions alongside other longtime major mainstays like the Trending tab, the YouTube Gaming hub, and YouTube Music.
Per 9to5Google, the page appears to have started rolling out to some users in late July, and still isn’t available to everyone. It’s not currently clear who might have access—whether it’s limited to specific geographical locations, demographics, and so on.
Those who do have access can see the page on both browser YouTube and in the YouTube app. Open it up, and there’s shelves of podcasts separated into genres like true crime, comedy, and sports, along with categories like “Recommended,” “Popular episodes,” “Popular podcast creators,” and “Popular podcast playlists.”
We don’t yet have access to poke around, but 9to5Google describes the hub as “rudimentary,” with content shelves displaying typical video thumbnails. Tapping a podcast opens it in the regular YouTube video player.