Apple delays Podcasts Subscriptions until June

Apple has announced to delay the launch of its upcoming Podcasts Subscriptions until June. The iPhone maker sent an email to podcasters mentioning the change of plans. Apple mentioned the reason for the delay is to “ensure the best experience for creators and listeners.”

The Podcasts Subscriptions was previously planned to launch this month. But got delayed due to some creators using Apple Podcasts running into issues with Apple Podcasts Connect.

In an email sent by Apple to the creators on Friday, as obtained by 9to5Mac:

We’re writing to provide an update on the availability of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels. We’ve been delighted by the response to last month’s announcement and it’s exciting to see the hundreds of new subscriptions and channels submitted from creators across the globe every day.

To ensure we are delivering the best experience for creators and listeners, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels will now launch in June. We will communicate further updates on availability, and best practices to help you prepare your subscriptions and channels, through this newsletter.

Over the last few weeks, some creators have experienced delays in the availability of their content and access to Apple Podcasts Connect. We’ve addressed these disruptions and encourage creators experiencing any issues to contact us.

We’ve also heard from listeners and made adjustments based on their feedback with iOS 14.6, which was released on Monday. We will introduce additional enhancements to Library in the coming weeks.

Apple announced the subscription platform during its Spring Loaded event back in April this year. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions will allow podcasters to offer paid subscriptions to their shows, and listeners can discover channels, premium subscriptions offered by their favorite creators. The service gives subscribers other benefits such as ad-free episodes, access to additional content, and subscriber-only episodes.

The program will cost $19.99 per year for creators and will be available for free on all Apple devices, iTunes on Windows, and other smart speakers and car systems.