{"id":32258,"date":"2021-04-23T15:14:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T19:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=32258"},"modified":"2021-04-23T15:57:14","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T19:57:14","slug":"itunes-podcast-directory-now-hiding-feed-urls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/23\/itunes-podcast-directory-now-hiding-feed-urls\/","title":{"rendered":"iTunes Podcast Directory Now Hiding Feed URLs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marco Arment<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Something’s up with the iTunes API (that most podcast apps use). This isn’t the first missing feedUrl<\/code> I’ve seen on a public podcast.<\/p>\n

Removing this API will make Apple an enemy of open podcasting FAR more than optional paid subscriptions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Benjamin Mayo<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Apple Podcasts Connect has a ‘Make my feed publicly available’ option so maybe the backend is screwed up whilst they transition databases or something.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Marco Arment<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

This checkbox needs to be seriously rethought.<\/p>\n

Novice podcasters won’t know the ramifications of unchecking it (not being visible to a huge portion of podcast listeners who use other apps).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Nathan Gathright<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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For new shows, it’s checked by default. It looks like existing shows are getting accidentally opted out when they make any change in Podcasts Connect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Stephen Robles<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Turns out, every one of the checkboxes were unchecked. Podcasters, double check your shows.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Art Crime Podcast<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Approx 15 hours after opting my podcast back INTO being discoverable, it still no longer appears in show results, only episode results.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Marco Arment<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Losing feed URLs from the iTunes API dramatically<\/em> raises the barrier for new podcast apps to exist and increases the burden on new podcasters to be visible everywhere.<\/p>\n

Removing feed URLs from the iTunes API does FAR more damage to the open podcast ecosystem, and changes Apple from a multi-decade benevolent protector to a destructive adversary, much more than introducing proprietary subscriptions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Russell Ivanovic<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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If you think this RSS feed thing going on with Apple Podcasts is just a launch glitch and it’s smooth sailing from here…my 12 years of App Development experience says otherwise. Have fun!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n