• About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertising
  • Support
  • Contact Us
October 4, 2023 5:53 pm CDT
Heartland Newsfeed
  • Illinois
    • Local
      • Capital Area
      • East Central Illinois
      • West Central Illinois
    • Regional
      • Chicagoland
      • Metro-East
      • Northern Illinois
      • Quad Cities
      • Southern Illinois
    • Obits
    • Executive Watch
    • Legislative Watch
    • Road Conditions
      • Illinois
    • Weather Closings
      • Central Illinois
  • Missouri
    • Regional
      • Northeastern Missouri
      • East Central Missouri
      • St. Louis Metro
      • Southeast Missouri
    • Executive Watch
    • Legislative Watch
    • Weather Closings
      • Greater STL Metro (IL/MO)
    • Road Conditions
      • Missouri
  • Weather
  • National
  • World
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • OPINION
  • Radio
    • Affiliates
    • Network Schedule
    • Network Streams
    • Podcasts
  • Features
    • Business Directory
    • Classifieds
      • Current Ads
      • Job Board
        • Job Listings
        • J2CTalroo
        • Post a Job
        • Receive Alerts
        • ZipSearch
    • Community Calendar
    • Live Video
    • Newsfeeds
    • Puzzles & More
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Calendar
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Heartland Newsfeed
No Result
View All Result

Automattic acquires Pocket Casts

Podcasting platform joins blogging platform giant

Jake Leonard by Jake Leonard
July 16, 2021
in Business & Lifestyle, Business News, Entertainment, Entertainment News, Technology News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Donate
0
SAN FRANCISCO/ADELAIDE — Automattic, the owner and developer of WordPress and Tumblr, is adding podcasting among its ranks. In a blog post on WordPress.com Friday, it was revealed that podcasting platform Pocket Casts is becoming part of the Automattic family. Pocket Casts is a popular podcast listening platform. You can search for and discover podcasts on the Android and iOS platforms. The app also allows users to keep their podcast subscriptions all in one location, syncing from all platforms. While originally commercial-only, Pocket Casts has been free since adding a Plus tier, offering a variety of features for $9.99/year. WP Tavern reveals that since May 2018, the platform has been under public media ownership through National Public Radio (NPR), WNYC Studios, WBEZ Chicago, and This American Life. British media division BBC Studios also held a small ownership stake prior to the acquisition.

Pocket Casts on the seller block due to cost-saving measures

Although it was in wide regard as one of the top podcasting applications available, financial statements reveal that it was not a profitable venture. Moreover, it did not fare well for one of its majority stakeholders. Financial statements and the subsequent auditor’s report from the 2020 tax year reveals this, as NPR lost more than $800,000 on the venture alone. This sparked the NPR Board of Governors to meet last December, resulting in the listed sale of the platform to potential suitors.

No financial information on sale is available

Currently, there are no financial details relating to the acquisition. However, it is possible that Automattic may have gotten a bargain on Pocket Casts. That is, if its co-owners were also losing money. Automattic is seemingly gaining a reputation for acquiring apps that people love to use, breathing new life into those companies to allow them to have a fighting chance at attaining financial stability and longevity. Previously, they’ve acquired blogging platform Tumblr and journaling platform Day One. This acquisition may also be sparking further growing interest in podcasting technologies, considering a $756,000 investment in Castos and a recent partnership with the Anchor podcast creation platform, currently owned by Spotify.

No changes are currently in the works

Announcements relating to the acquisition assure that no changes are in the works for current Pocket Casts customers. However, the announcement from Automattic made no promises and did not share much in detail regarding their future plans. Integration with WordPress.com may be a future feature, but that is currently in the exploration stage. There were no announcements in relation to WordPress.org websites in self-hosting environments. “As part of Automattic, Pocket Casts will continue to provide you with the features needed to enjoy your favorite podcasts (or find something new),” Automattic’s Head of Apps Eli Budelli said. “We will explore building deep integrations with WordPress.com and Pocket Casts, making it easier to distribute and listen to podcasts. We’re thrilled that we can continue to give our users a multitude of ways to tell and engage with stories that matter.” Pocket Casts co-founders Russell Ivanovic and Philip Simpson will continue as leads of the project as part of the acquisition. EDITOR’S NOTE: Heartland Newsfeed utilizes the WordPress.org self-hosted platform for its online operations. Heartland Newsfeed Podcast Network is on the Pocket Casts platform.
For more business and technology news, follow Jake Leonard on Twitter @JakeLeonardWPMD and Heartland Newsfeed @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter. Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms. You can now follow our news updates on Telegram, Flote, and MeWe. Support independent journalism. Become a patron on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. There are other donor options as well.
Jake Leonard
Website | + posts

Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

  • Jake Leonard
    https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/
    At least five dead after crash, anhydrous leak in Effingham County
  • Jake Leonard
    https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/
    Blackburn volleyball loses Homecoming thriller
  • Jake Leonard
    https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/
    Eastern Illinois suspends men's swimming season
  • Jake Leonard
    https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/admin/
    Cougars earn come-from-behind win at Charleston

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: anchorAutomatticBBC Studiosbusiness newsCastosDay Oneentertainment newsNational Public RadioPhilip SimpsonPocket Castsradio newsRussell IvanovicSpotifytechnology newsTumblrWBEZ ChicagoWNYC StudiosWordPress
Share196Tweet123Share5Send
  • Workforce training center opens in Litchfield

    1497 shares
    Share 599 Tweet 374
  • Missouri law to crack down on porch pirates

    980 shares
    Share 392 Tweet 245
  • Missouri Dems critical of proposed tax cut

    959 shares
    Share 384 Tweet 240
  • No management pay raises in UPS deal

    917 shares
    Share 367 Tweet 229
  • McARDLE PAPERS: The most corrupt committee in the national Libertarian Party

    915 shares
    Share 366 Tweet 229

OPERATING HOURS

Online all the time 
Office Hours: 8 AM to 8 PM

Sitemap | Published Press | Privacy Policy
Staff Email | Independent Media | Buy traffic for your website

LIVE WEBSITE VIEWERS

Some rights reserved 2017-2023 by Heartland Newsfeed, a subsidiary partnership by Heartland Internet Media Networks and Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois LLC. Content published by Heartland Newsfeed staff is covered by the BipCot NoGov license. This allows use and re-use by anyone except governments and government agents. License on record. JNews theme designed and developed by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • World
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Health
    • Travel

Some rights reserved 2017-2023 by Heartland Newsfeed, a subsidiary partnership by Heartland Internet Media Networks and Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois LLC. Content published by Heartland Newsfeed staff is covered by the BipCot NoGov license. This allows use and re-use by anyone except governments and government agents. License on record. JNews theme designed and developed by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

WP Radio
WP Radio
OFFLINE LIVE
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00
%d bloggers like this: