With the launch of “The Daily” in 2017, The New York Times says it began a push into audio journalism. Since then, The Times says it has built a comprehensive audio report that helps listeners understand the world around them. The Times claims it now reaches tens of millions of people who find Times podcasts more valuable than ever before.
Along with its stand-alone Audio app and the Listen tab in The New York Times app, the publisher says it remains dedicated to getting its journalism to subscribers in more creative, accessible and direct ways. Now the publisher says it is expanding where people can subscribe to listen to its audio journalism by teaming up with Apple Podcasts and Spotify, two of the biggest platforms where listening is happening.
Starting this month, listeners of New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify will be able to subscribe for unlimited access to shows. While the most recent episodes of most of shows, like “The Daily,” “The Ezra Klein Show,” “Hard Fork” and “Modern Love” will remain free, listeners will need to subscribe to access the archives. Subscribers will also get early access to new shows from Serial Productions, added the publisher. NYT says it expects the subscription model to evolve over time, allowing it to maintain and grow its audience while simultaneously introducing listeners to the benefit of a subscription.
On Apple Podcasts, listeners who purchased their subscription to The Times in The New York Times app will have their subscriptions automatically connected the next time they open Apple Podcasts. Listeners can also connect their subscriptions by signing into their account from The New York Times channel page and from individual Show pages on Apple Podcasts.
On Spotify, listeners can also connect their subscriptions by signing into their account from any of the New York Times podcasts. Listeners wishing to become subscribers from Spotify can follow a few simple steps to become subscribers and return to listening.
“Our audio journalism connects The Times with millions of people every day, and now we’re taking a significant step forward in transforming this powerful connection into a key driver of our subscription business,” said Ben Cotton, head of subscription growth at The Times. “We believe that our audio journalism, featuring the most authoritative coverage of the most important and interesting stories, is worth paying for. And working closely with Apple Podcasts and Spotify has allowed us to create a seamless experience that’s both intuitive to use and easy to understand. This collaboration allows us to expand our reach while making it easier than ever for listeners to not only engage more deeply with The Times but support our original, independent audio journalism by subscribing.”
“Our audio report has gotten much bigger over the past few years, and it has a lot more breadth. We now have several news programs, more shows in tech, politics, culture and lifestyle, and we’ve even expanded our shows in Opinion and Sports. We’re excited to get all our shows in front of more people,” added Paula Szuchman, The Times’s director of audio.
NYT says a podcast subscription will cost $6/month and $50/year. New York Times All Access and Home Delivery subscribers will continue to have full access at no additional charge.
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