Announced: https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/apple-unveils-podcast-subscriptions-and-a-redesigned-apple-podcasts-app/ https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/apple-un

Announced: https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/apple-unveils-podcast-subscriptions-and-a-redesigned-apple-podcasts-app/ https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/apple-unveils-podcast-subs... Press Release: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-leads-the-next-chapter-of-podcasting-with-apple-podcasts-subscriptions/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-leads-the-next-... Quote: >Starting in May, listeners in more than 170 countries and regions can sign up for premium subscriptions that include a variety of benefits curated by creators, such as ad-free listening, access to additional content, and early or exclusive access to new series. >Fifteen years ago, Apple took podcasts mainstream, offering creators a premier, _open platform_ to inform, entertain, and inspire hundreds of millions of listeners around the world,” said Eddy Cue Interesting that the "open platform" part is no longer needed.