Entertainment applications such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Google understand the importance of podcasts. To such an extent that they have special sections for users to find their favorites! Speaking about Google – it even had a dedicated app called “Google Podcasts” preinstalled on Pixel phones with tight integration into the search engine (search). However, this service disappeared recently without explanation.
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If you searched for a popular podcast in Google Search, you used to see a special interface that listed recent episodes with a play button next to them. Tapping that button would open the Google Podcasts player and allow you to start the selected episode . As 9to5Google reports via Podnews, the play button and links to Google Podcasts are no longer showing up in search results — all that’s left are reviews, other podcasting platform websites , and websites run by individual podcast hosts.
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According to a Google spokesperson, the recent move is part of its mission to improve user experience. Interestingly, no new features have been added to the Podcasts app on Android in nearly 18 months after many improvements were made in the past. Additionally, the related Creator Program ended in January 2023, which led some to speculate that this could be the beginning of departure from Podcasts altogether.
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The Podcasts app has been around since 2018 and exists alongside YouTube and YouTube Music as integral Google apps. Despite their assurances that nothing is changing just yet, we remain wary given Google's historical tendency to discontinue innovative products like Loon, Stadia, Google+, and Hangouts after a period of success.
Google's recent move to remove podcasts from its search engine could be a sign that it's time for a change in podcasting practices, or even signal the end of the service. However, without a clear official explanation from Google, much is open to interpretation.
The podcasts offer many benefits for businesses that want to increase their visibility and reach their target audience. From increased visibility and higher engagement rates, to building relationships with customers and creating thought leadership around your brand – there is no doubt that investing in podcasting has the potential to deliver a lot for any business seeking an extra advantage in the digital world.
Information source: androidpolice.com
