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Podcast
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<p>A podcast is a <a href="/facts/Radio_program/VByUdhNU">program</a> made available in digital format for <a href="/facts/Download/qN7fWmyI">download</a> over the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a>. Typically, a podcast is an <a href="/facts/Episode/xxqJdPq0">episodic</a> series of <a href="/facts/Digital_audio/PgugcLAI">digital audio</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">files</a> that users can download to a personal device or stream to listen to at a time of their choosing. Podcasts are primarily an audio medium, but some distribute in video, either as their primary content or as a supplement to audio; popularised in recent years by video platform <a href="/facts/YouTube/db276jst">YouTube</a>. In 2025, <a href="/facts/Bloomberg_News/q4DStFUV">Bloomberg</a> reported that a billion people are watching podcasts on <a href="/facts/YouTube/db276jst">YouTube</a> every month. </p><p>A podcast series usually features one or more recurring hosts engaged in a discussion about a particular topic or current event. Discussion and content within a podcast can range from carefully scripted to completely improvised. Podcasts combine elaborate and artistic sound production with thematic concerns ranging from scientific research to <a href="/facts/Slice_of_life/zLXjCSyt">slice-of-life</a> <a href="/facts/Journalism/hue0m1xf">journalism</a>. Many podcast series provide an associated website with links and show notes, guest biographies, transcripts, additional resources, commentary, and occasionally a community forum dedicated to discussing the show's content. </p><p>The cost to the consumer is low, and many podcasts are free to download. Some podcasts are underwritten by corporations or sponsored, with the inclusion of <a href="/facts/Commercial_advertisement/yyGr3J3z">commercial advertisements</a>. In other cases, a podcast could be a business venture supported by some combination of a paid <a href="/facts/Subscription_model/CNForGLH">subscription model</a>, advertising or product delivered after sale. Because podcast content is often free, podcasting is often classified as a <a href="/facts/Disruptive_innovation/ShoJutBR">disruptive</a> <a href="/facts/Media_(communication)/uflm14CI">medium</a>, adverse to the maintenance of traditional <a href="/facts/Revenue_model/Mr0qG89f">revenue models</a>. </p><p>Podcasting is the preparation and distribution of audio or video files using <a href="/facts/RSS/WBAWrkdj">RSS</a> feeds to the devices of subscribed users. A podcaster normally buys this service from a podcast hosting company such as <a href="/facts/SoundCloud/ed7sgTI1">SoundCloud</a> or <a href="/facts/Libsyn/S5U4ydIk">Libsyn</a>. Hosting companies then distribute these media files to podcast directories and streaming services, such as <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple</a> and <a href="/facts/Spotify/wsTSvDD8">Spotify</a>, which users can listen to on their <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a> or digital music and multimedia players. </p><p>As of June 2024, there are at least 3,369,942 podcasts and 199,483,500 episodes. </p>