People “don’t want to just listen”: YouTube’s Mohan

Sponsored by Podscribe. Just Launched: Q2 2025 Podscribe Performance Benchmarks
For the first time ever, see international benchmarks, and the top performing audience segments.
Download the report to learn how to maximize your campaign performance!

• “Having podcasts hosted on YouTube and having the algorithm find new audiences for you every single day turns out to be really, really powerful, no matter how big of a podcaster you are.” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan spoke with The Ankler CEO and Editor in Chief Janice Min to an invitation-only crowd at Cannes Lions yesterday - where he suggested that video is central to podcasting’s growth. “People actually don’t want to just listen to podcasts, they want to watch podcasts, they want to watch this conversation happening... Video was a really big bet, that turned out to be true.” The full interview will be carried in The Ankler today; Mohan is keynote speaker today on the festival’s main stage.


• Using downloads for measurement is a business liability, argues podcast growth company Bumper in a blog post. Downloads are decreasing for many podcasts - yet, downloads are largely disconnected from actual podcast consumption: and technical changes, like Apple varying their automatic podcast downloads algorithm (which they did in mid-2023), represents a risk for any podcast publisher. They, as you might expect, recommend the Bumper Dashboard; but irrespective of that, the argument makes sense.
  
  
  
  • Talking of the Bumper Dashboard, here’s what the Podnews Weekly Review looks like over the last six months. We’ve seen significantly higher plays in YouTube since tweaking our Headliner template to add captions and chapter points.
  
  
  
  


• PodcastOne has renewed its sales and distribution agreement with A+E Networks. The five shows represent 160mn total downloads.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Use your podcast to get clients (FREE Workshop) — This FREE 90 minute Podcasting Business School virtual workshop will teach you simple strategies to help you convert more of your podcast listeners into paying clients. Join us on August 27th!
• Audiencelift - YouTube Channel Growth for Podcasts — Ready to grow your podcast on YouTube? With targeted strategies, you can increase visibility, attract listeners, and turn views into subscribers. Start growing your YouTube Channel Today!
• Protect your Podcast - Easy Legal Strategies — Learn podcasting business and legal essentials. Do things like the pros, without lawyers and big headaches.
  Presented by Gordon Firemark, The Podcast Lawyer™

  Register now! Don't miss out!

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Mamamia, PodMatch, The $100 MBA, Cloud10, Sounds Profitable, The Podglomerate, audioBoom, Cohost, SALT, RedCircle, Podscribe, Simplecast, Steve Lack: Audio, Resound, Audiohook, Riverside.fm, Jar Podcast Solutions, Podchaser, Awesound, We Edit Podcasts, Acast, Podpage websites, Evergreen Podcasts, Disctopia, Knucklehead Media Group

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, Magellan AI, Ausha, Ask Ralph Christian Finance, SoundStack, Podium , POW PR, Huberman Lab, The Roost, Jonekiri, Storyboard, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Truefans, Compliance Podcast Network, Voxtopica, Castbox, The Podcast Haven, Red Seat Ventures, Gumball, Gilded Audio, Frequency, Tink Media, Podcastpage, Message Heard, Health Podcast Network, Transistor, Optimal Living Daily, Oxford Road, Rephonic, Headliner, Rhapsody Voices, Podcast Taxi, Diversion Podcasts, Blubrry, matchmaker.fm, Lemonada Media, Heartcast Media50, Zvook, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Double Elvis Productions, Wondery, Jam Street Media, Castos, Ossa Collective, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Ad Results Media, StreamGuys, Hear.Here.Singapore, She Podcasts, Cleanfeed, Podigy, Revolver Podcasts, Lower Street, Sonix, School of Podcasting, Adopter Media, Podcast Movement, Signal Hill Insights, Edison Research

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Alex Suprun