After formalizing the arrival of podcast playback on the YouTube Music streaming service, the precise features of this support are revealed in the code of the latest application update.
Google is preparing to launch podcast playback on YouTube Music. In an article published on Tuesday March 14, the specialized media 9to5Google broke down the latest update to the YouTube Music app on the Android Play Store. The code of this version 5.48 reveals several options dedicated to the reading of podcast episodes, even if these are still invisible for the moment.
Features integrated ahead of the official arrival of podcasts on YouTube Music, confirmed ” in the near future at the Hot Pod Summit in late February by YouTube Podcast Director Kai Chuk.
Rather than relying on the millions of existing podcasts in video form on YouTube, it will create a special 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. 9to5Googlequotes in particular two lines of code which evokes two features to come for a “episode added to queue” And “to listen to next“, as with its competitor Spotify.
Similarly, the media has spotted an upcoming option in the settings to force the application to listen to video podcasts only in audio version. An option already available to premium subscribers for music played in the application.
Still according to the code analyzed by9to5Googlethe podcasts will appear in the “Libraryof the app. 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 advertising
Google therefore seems ready to put podcast support online in its audio and video streaming application soon. Based on the official announcement at the end of February, this support should arrive in the US first, although Video Podcasts should not be available initially.
.@Youtube will soon be distributing podcasts through @youtubemusic. Listeners will be able to consume podcasts with a locked screen.#HotPodSummit @onairfest
— Arielle Nissenblatt (sounds like ‘this & that’) (@arithisandthat) February 23, 2023
The director of podcasts for YouTube had already mentioned some upcoming features. Episodes will normally be able to play in the background even after locking the phone. 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, such as for listening to music in the application.
We therefore have a rather precise idea of the next support for podcasts on YouTube Music. Despite everything, we do not yet know if some of the features mentioned will be conditional on a YouTube Music Premium subscription of 10 euros per month, as is the case for music today.
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