Justin Jackson on the threat to podcasts from YouTube, and why we should keep investing in RSS:

The benefit of investing in RSS is that any innovations will be shared across the entire ecosystem. When YouTube innovates, the benefits stay inside YouTube. When the podcast community innovates on RSS, everyone benefits: creators, listeners, and businesses alike.

A few years ago we were worried about Spotify locking down podcasts. YouTube feels a little different because video supplements rather than replaces audio podcasts. But Justin is right that we should be vigilant.

@manton With the way YouTube is enabling “click a button and a playlist is now a podcast”, they’re just as guilty of trying to replace audio podcasts. I think there’s room for both, but IMHO traditional podcast hosting companies like Justin & Transistor can’t compete with video hosting like YouTube / Spotify.

@manton I don’t care if the podcasts I listen to in Pocket Casts on my phone are also available on YouTube.

@iChris I wasn’t aware of that playlist to podcast feature. It still doesn’t create an actual podcast with an RSS feed, right? I agree on competing with YouTube, though, it’s nearly impossible.

@manton @iChris I’m old, so I know I don’t get it, but I would really like to sit in on a focus group with young people explain what they think a podcast is (or ought to be) and why they use YouTube to listen/watch.

@jeremycherfas @iChris I don’t quite get it either. I enjoy watching interviews on YouTube sometimes, but I wouldn’t want to regularly watch shows instead of listening to the podcast version.

@iChris @manton Even when it is two remote heads talking? That is the part I don’t get at all. For me, podcasts are something I can listen to while walking or driving, without having to look. I suppose I could look while on a bus or train, but I don’t really want to.