After formalizing the launch of podcast playback on the YouTube Music streaming service, the precise capabilities of this support are revealed in the code of the latest application update.
Source: YouTube Music
Google is preparing to launch podcast playback on YouTube Music. In an article published on Tuesday March 14, the specialist media 9to5Google analyzed the latest update of the YouTube Music application on the Android Play Store. The code in this version 5.48 shows several options for reading podcast episodes, although these are currently invisible.
The functionality was built in ahead of the official launch of podcasts on YouTube Music, which YouTube Music Podcasts Director Kai Chuk confirmed was “in the near future” at the Hot Pod Summit in late February.
Instead of relying on the millions of existing podcasts in video form on YouTube, it will create a dedicated content category within YouTube Music, its separate music streaming service.
Add episodes to your playlist
The app’s code first reveals upcoming support for podcast show playlists. Specifically, 9to5Google cites two lines of code that invoke two functions to “queue for an episode” and “come for a listen,” like its competitor Spotify.
Similarly, the media spotted an upcoming option in settings to force the application to listen to video podcasts in audio version only. An option already available to premium subscribers for music played in the application.
Still according to the code analyzed by 9to5Google, the podcasts appear in the application’s “Library” tab. It would also be possible to download them for offline listening and these would appear in the same place as the downloaded songs. The search bar should also allow you to find podcasts. Finally, the service’s upcoming sleep timer will support multi-hour countdowns to accommodate the podcast format.
Podcasts with Audio Ads
Google therefore seems poised to bring podcast support online soon in its audio and video streaming application. Based on the official announcement in late February, this support is initially set to arrive in the US, although video podcasts are said to be unavailable at first.
.@youtube will soon be distributing podcasts about @youtube music. Listeners can consume podcasts with a locked screen.#HotPodSummit @onairfest
— Arielle Nissenblatt (sounds like ‘this & that’) (@arithisandthat) February 23, 2023
The podcast director for YouTube had already mentioned some upcoming features. Episodes can usually be played in the background even after the phone is locked. It should also be possible to start a podcast on one device and then continue listening on another. However, Kai Chuk announced the presence of audio advertising, for example, for listening to music in the application.
So we have a pretty good idea of what’s next for podcast support on YouTube Music. Despite everything, we still don’t know whether some of the features mentioned will be linked to a YouTube Music Premium subscription of 10 euros per month, as is the case with music today.
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