Facebook will begin rolling out its podcast feature on June 22, allowing podcasters to easily publish new episodes on the social network.
The podcasting feature will allow podcasters to link their RSS feeds to Facebook, which will automatically publish new episodes to their news feeds, according to an email to podcasters obtained by The Verge viewed In a statement to The Verge, Facebook said a limited number of page owners will have access to the podcast feature on June 22. However, as more emails have been sent out, it's possible the launch will be broader than previously thought. In addition to being able to distribute shows on Facebook, podcasters can also allow clips - user-created excerpts from a show that can be shared. Facebook says clips can "increase visibility and engagement."
Facebook is working on additional audio offerings
The social media giant first unveiled its podcasting feature in April. The integration allows listeners to find, subscribe to and listen to shows within the Facebook platform. In addition to the podcast product, Facebook is also working on other audio offerings such as a virtual chatroom comparable to Clubhouse, as well as short audio posts called "soundbites." Other tech companies are making their own forays into the podcast industry. Spotify, for example, has negotiated exclusive deals with podcast creators while Amazon recently acquired podcast studio Wondery. Apple also launched a premium subscription-based podcast service on Tuesday that allows listeners to support specific shows and receive exclusive subscriber benefits. (Photo by Denys Prykhodov / Bigstockphoto)
