Facebook has announced plans to launch its own Podcasts platform inside of the social network.
According to internal emails announcing the launch, seen by The Verge, the social networking giant has spoken to a number of famous podcasters and creators and informed them that from 22 June, they’ll be able to link their own podcast’s RSS feed to their Facebook profile. Facebook will then automatically generate News Feed posts for new episodes, helping grow their listenership and drive engagement.
In the leaked email, the company said: “Facebook will be the place where people can enjoy, discuss, and share the podcasts they love with each other.”
A dedicated Podcasts tab will appear on user’s screens, and podcast creators will be able to create clips of their shows up to one minute long, ideal for teasing discussion points or an interview with a guest.
Unlike some platforms, like Apple’s new Podcasts Subscriptions service, Facebook won’t take a cut of any revenue generated through the platform, though that could change should the initial rollout be a success. Facebook’s plans follow on from Apple’s recent launch – it takes 30% of all subscription revenue from podcast creators in their first year, and 15% from year two.
Apple’s rival Spotify has also invested in podcasts in recent years and has a number of exclusive shows and titles which can only be streamed by Spotify Premium users. Apple has yet to follow in the same footsteps, though rumors suggest it’s working on a slew of new titles based around Apple TV+ shows.
Are you interested in Facebook Podcasts? Let us know and check back soon for more news.
