YouTube recently announced that more than 1 billion people are watching podcasts on the platform every month. That’s a staggering number — far more than Apple or Spotify. This shift highlights just how much video content is shaping the podcasting industry. In today’s Tech News Tuesday episode, we’re talking about YouTube’s massive growth in the podcasting space. If you’re still doing audio only podcasts, it might be time to rethink your strategy.
Rethinking the Podcast Experience
Traditionally, podcasts have been all about audio, but YouTube is changing that. People want a visual experience, and more creators are adapting by producing video versions of their podcasts. YouTube’s algorithm also favors video content, giving podcasts on the platform better visibility compared to traditional podcast apps.
The shift to a video-based podcast experience is impacting other platforms like Spotify.
This trend isn’t just about YouTube’s dominance. It’s also impacting how other platforms operate. Spotify has started paying video-first podcasters and investing more in video content to compete. But YouTube still has a major advantage: it’s where people are already watching and discovering content. With over 400 million hours of podcasts watched on TVs last year, it’s clear that video is driving engagement.
If you’re a podcaster, that means you can’t ignore YouTube anymore. But, there’s a challenge — creating quality video content takes more effort.
Creating quality video content takes more effort.
Unlike traditional podcast platforms, YouTube doesn’t support RSS feeds the same way. Podcasts need to be uploaded as native YouTube videos. To really succeed, creators need more than just a static image — they need engaging visuals.
Videos require extra work, but the payoff is huge.
While that does add some extra work, the benefits can be huge. YouTube offers a built-in audience and increased discoverability.
So, what’s the takeaway here? If you’re in the podcasting space, now’s the time to consider adding video to your strategy. YouTube’s massive audience means more potential reach, but you also have to adapt to its format. Whether you’re repurposing existing content or creating full video podcasts, having a presence on YouTube could make a big difference in growing your audience.
Video content is here to stay, and YouTube is proving that it’s a key player in the podcasting world. If you’re not already creating video content, now’s the time to start.
Do you prefer to listen in? Here’s our podcast:
Links in this episode: More than 1 billion people are now watching podcasts on YouTube every month
YouTube surpasses 1B monthly podcast viewers
