Acast, a global podcast marketplace, has announced the launch of Acast+ Access. The company says this technology gives any company with an existing paid subscription offering the ability to add exclusive podcast benefits.
New research shows that there is a lucrative opportunity for publishers and other companies to integrate podcasts into their current subscriptions. According to a recent Acast survey, more than a quarter of consumers (27%) would be more likely to sign up for a subscription if they also received podcast benefits as part of that subscription. More than a fifth of consumers (21%) would be willing to pay even more to get the added podcast benefits, the company added.
With the launch of Acast+ Access, companies with existing membership offerings — including news publishers, media organisations, streaming services, and more — can now integrate podcast benefits into the paywall they already use for their subscribers.
Ross Adams, CEO at Acast, said: “Acast+ Access is a game-changer for companies that want to increase their overall subscription revenue and make their offering even more attractive to consumers. As more and more audiences seek premium podcast content, our technology allows providers to easily meet that need and deepen their relationship with their customers. And for companies not already incorporating podcasts into their subscription strategy, this is one of the easiest ways to rally new subscribers immediately.”
Yasmin Bassi, senior product manager at Acast, said: “With Acast+ Access, Acast gives publishers and other companies the most powerful, centralised solution for all their podcast needs — allowing them to manage podcast advertising, distribution, and subscriptions seamlessly in one single, easy-to-use platform. It isn’t only a great thing for publishers, but for their audiences, who can sign up to a company’s subscription effortlessly and immediately access subscriber-only podcasts on their app of choice.”
Acast says Acast+ Access allows companies to upgrade their current subscription offering with various podcast benefits, such as ad-free listening, exclusive content (e.g. paywalled episodes, extended episodes, full series), personalised intros and outros, archived content, early access to content, and more. Subscribers can then access those benefits on their podcast app or listening platform of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, the web, and any other platform that supports private RSS feeds.
Companies adopting Acast+ Access manage their own subscriber base and control the sign-up page, checkout, and onboarding experience for their subscription offering, simplifying the process for their subscribers. The scalable solution also provides valuable reporting and analytics tools, giving companies valuable insights into how their premium podcasts are performing.
Acast+ Access is currently in use by companies including History Hit, the podcast, SVOD and content platform founded by historian Dan Snow, who will be launching exclusive content later this Summer.
Steve Lanham — head of podcasts at History Hit said: "History Hit has always aimed to make history more accessible in the digital age, and podcasts are a huge part of that mission. Through Acast+ Access, we can offer listeners more of the audio they love, giving them additional access to fascinating stories and interviews from the world's leading historians and experts."
Acast says Acast+ Access is based on an earlier iteration of the company’s technology of a similar name (“Acast Access”). It has been rebuilt to now allow clients to offer even more podcast benefits developed through the Acast+ technology, such as ad-free listening and early access to content, and access to bolstered analytics. Acast earns a fee for each private podcast feed activated by the client’s paying subscribers.
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