YouTube launches dedicated podcasts section

YouTube is introducing a dedicated podcast page. According to 9to5Google, the page debuted in late July and is still being rolled out. However, only users in the USA can access it at the moment through the Explore page (in-app or browser), where a new podcast tab has been added, or at youtube.com/podcasts. The new page showcases popular programs and channels with millions of subscribers, like The H3 Podcast or Logan Paul's podcast, but it doesn't show a lot of curation in other areas.

The fact that YouTube is now a major player in the podcasting industry happened more accidentally than on purpose. In 2005, Apple, the first major technology company, introduced podcasts. With studio and technology acquisitions, blockbuster deals with celebrities like Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper, and other aggressive strategies, Spotify began pursuing podcasting in 2019. YouTube podcasts, meanwhile, just sort of developed because everything eventually ends up there.