This Week in Podcasting - Podcast News 16 August
It was a busy week across podcasting, with changes to how shows are consumed, distributed and recognised. Here are the stories that stood out.
Spotify tests a new way to skip podcast ads
Spotify is testing a “Skip Ahead” button for some Premium users, allowing them to jump over sponsorships, introductions and promotional sections. The feature can bypass creator-read advertising, while advertising sold by Spotify is reportedly treated differently. TechRadar reports on the test.
For listeners, it offers an easier way to get past unwanted interruptions. For creators, however, skipped sponsorships could affect the value of an important advertising format. Spotify says the feature is designed to improve the Premium experience and does not expect it to hurt creator monetisation, but it remains a test for now.
Acast opens Apple Podcasts video to selected creators
Acast is giving selected creators access to Apple's new video podcast publishing system, allowing filmed episodes to appear directly on Apple Podcasts. The feature remains in limited beta, with access currently restricted to certain creators. Acast's guidance explains the publishing process.
Apple is entering video podcasting after YouTube and Spotify have already built substantial audiences around filmed shows. Its advantage is the podcast ecosystem it already has, while Acast makes it easier for existing video creators to add another distribution channel. The next question is whether audiences will actually watch on Apple.
Critics Choice enters the creator economy
The Critics Choice Association has launched its inaugural Critics Choice Creator Awards, with podcasts recognised through Best Podcast Host, Best Audio Podcast and Best Video Podcast.
The wider programme also covers livestreamers, viral videos, micro-dramas, comedy, business, health and wellness and other digital formats, bringing creator-led entertainment into an awards system traditionally associated with film and television. Critics’ Choice's announcement gives the full programme.
Submissions open October 19, nominations arrive in March 2027 and the first winners will be announced on April 15.
Podfluencer opens its awards to the world
The Podfluencer Awards has introduced an International Award for independent English-language podcasts from around the world, opening its competition beyond the German-speaking community for the first time.
The organisers say they want to discover independent shows their existing community may not otherwise encounter, rather than simply attracting the biggest international names. The winner will also gain access to a community that began in 2022 and has grown into a festival featuring live podcasts, workshops and networking.
Applications closed August 15, with nominees expected by the end of September and the winner due to be announced on October 24 in Munich.
British Podcast Awards reveals 180 finalists
The British Podcast Awards has announced 180 finalists across 29 categories ahead of its tenth-anniversary ceremony on October 1.
The Best Host shortlist includes Bill Nighy, Louis Theroux, Edith Bowman, Katherine Ryan, Lily Allen, Miquita Oliver and Rylan Clark, while the wider awards span business, comedy, documentary, education, news, sport, true crime and Welsh-language podcasting.
The awards also recognise different levels of scale, with the Specialist category highlighting independent shows and the Spotlight Award recognising podcasts with more than 100,000 downloads per episode.
European Technology Network raises $1.6 million
European Technology Network has raised $1.6 million as it expands from a twice-weekly livestream into a five-day-a-week live technology show across X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The round was led by Powerhouse Capital, with backing from Axel Springer, Caspar Lee and angel investors associated with OpenAI and DeepMind. ETN has also opened a new studio near King's Cross.
The company is expanding beyond interviews into technology news and live discussions as it tries to build a broader media platform around Europe's technology ecosystem. The move to five days a week will now test whether it can maintain the audience and guest interest that helped drive the expansion.
What we're watching next
This week's stories show podcasting becoming increasingly intertwined with platforms, video, creator communities and new media businesses. Spotify is changing how listeners interact with advertising, Apple is expanding video, and awards organisations are widening the definition of podcasting.
For creators, that means more opportunities — but also more dependence on the platforms shaping how audiences discover and experience their work.
