Google Removes Podcasts from Search

Google no longer allows users to directly listen to podcasts from search results, which may signal a shift toward promoting podcasts on YouTube.

Users won’t be able to access podcast episodes directly from the SERPs anymore because Google has covertly removed integrated podcasts from search Results

Podnews was the first to notice this alteration, and a Google representative later confirmed that the removal was deliberate.

This alteration will have an impact on the 2019 functionality that allowed users to listen to individual podcast episodes without leaving Google.

Although consumers cannot directly access podcast episodes from the search page, Google will still link to them in search results.

Users will instead be sent to the podcast’s host website.

According to a Google spokeswoman, the decision to eliminate embedded podcasts from search results was taken to improve user experience.

The representative tells Podnews, “We’re continuously experimenting with methods to improve the experience for our consumers.

The removal of embedded podcasts from search results is predictable given that the Google Podcasts app hasn’t had an update in 18 months, despite the fact that Google didn’t provide any prior notification.

Users of the feature who frequently utilize it will probably be disappointed by the change.

However, since users will no longer be able to get podcasts through a simple search, this shift may lead to more people subscribing to them.

Google may be phasing out the Google Podcasts offering as part of a bigger strategy by removing integrated podcasts from search results.

According to a Bloomberg article from 2021, YouTube was looking to employ someone to manage its podcasting operation.

This shows that Google is committed to improving the YouTube podcasting experience and that it might not want to engage in direct competition with itself in that market.

According to a 2022 survey by Edison Research, YouTube is the most popular medium for podcast listening, with Spotify coming in second.

It’s important to note that YouTube attained this degree of fame despite not having a dedicated podcast category.

Google will probably turn its attention to YouTube if it stops supporting its Podcasts app. This might indicate the release of a YouTube Podcasts app.