Does the Video BOOM Mean Audio’s DOOM?
Is podcasting “dead” because video is booming? A new Times piece argues the rise of video podcasting signals a kind of devolution. That “shows” will replace “podcasts” until they’re basically just episodic YouTube videos.
But audience behavior doesn’t fully support that conclusion: Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights found 92% of podcast consumers listen to at least some podcast content, while only 8% exclusively watch video.
My take: the “vodcast” boom is real, but it’s easy to confuse visibility with habit. Video may win discovery, while audio still wins routines and long-term loyalty. Read my full breakdown here.
Podnews’ James Cridland reports that Libsyn has temporarily been unable to reliably provide 301 redirects for some customers, making it harder for creators to move hosts without risking broken distribution. The issue stems from Libsyn’s use of multiple feed variants, and after Q4 2025 RSS infrastructure changes, some feeds (including “rss.libsyn” variants) have effectively become difficult to redirect properly. Podnews says this isn’t a rare edge case either, with thousands of shows potentially impacted if directories have indexed the “wrong” feed URL.
And here’s the part that should make you cringe: Podnews also found examples of Libsyn support blaming other hosting companies for the problem, despite it being rooted in Libsyn’s own feed structure and redirect behavior. That kind of finger-pointing is a flashing red light for UNprofessionalism, because the fastest way to lose trust is to disparage a client, a partner, a subcontractor, or “the other guys” instead of owning the issue and fixing it.
Substack Launches TV APP
Substack is testing a new TV app (now in beta) for Apple TV and Google TV, aimed at bringing subscriber videos and livestreams onto the biggest screen in the house. Creators who already publish video don’t need to change anything—eligible videos appear automatically for subscribers who sign in. At launch, viewers can watch video posts and livestreams from subscriptions, browse a “For You” row mixing subscribed videos with recommendations, and open dedicated pages for each publication to explore more. Substack says future updates will add things like audio posts/read-alouds, better search and discovery, paid previews for free subscribers, and in-app upgrades to paid subscriptions.
Washington Post Tries AI Podcasts (Horribly)
Podnews first brought this to our attention: The Washington Post is experimenting with AI-generated “podcast” versions of its stories, complete with synthetic hosts and auto-produced summaries. The early results feel rough, with awkward delivery and the kind of glitches that remind you you’re listening to software, not a person. Part of me thinks AI podcasts are inherently ridiculous because the whole point is the human bond, and there’s almost nothing more personal than listening to a host you trust. But it might also be the shaky, pioneering phase and the tech is simply working through the first wave of mistakes.
StreamYard Hikes Prices?
Remote recording platform StreamYard appears to have implemented another pricing change that, in at least one case, saw a four-person team’s plan jump from $89 per month to $417 per month. The move follows earlier adjustments to StreamYard’s pricing model, including a price increase in September 2024 and a period where pricing details were temporarily removed from the company’s website. Hat tip to Podnews for first flagging this.
Pro Tool
Podspun is a new YouTube-only tool that turns your podcast channel into a searchable archive, letting listeners search any word or topic and jump straight to the exact moment it’s mentioned. It also layers in AI to generate episode summaries, key insights, pull-quotes, highlights, quote cards, tags, and simple analytics, so your best moments are easier to find and share. Pricing starts at $79/month for unlimited channels with up to 1,000 public YouTube videos, with each additional 100 videos costing $5/month.
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