“Another 374,000 flights” - the cost of adding video

Sponsored by Podscribe. Newly Launched: June 2025 Industry Rankings
See the top podcasts, publishers, and advertisers in the industry’s ultimate ranker.
Explore the full rankings to spot the leaders and biggest movers.

• The yearly environmental effect of Spotify integrating video into its music platform could mean an increase in carbon emissions equivalent to an extra 374,000 flights between Paris and New York, according to a new study. Video is significantly more energy-intensive, says carbon management company Greenly, because screens need to be on and lit, and video uses increased data and processor power.
  • The study notes that adding video to an audio-only platform means over 50x more carbon emissions every hour. The study only measures Spotify’s music platform, and not podcasting: but video podcasting on Spotify, and on YouTube, will mean additional energy use.
• Pocket Casts has added transcripts to its web player. “Some podcasts include their own transcripts which are available to all users. And if they don’t, as a Plus or Patron subscriber, you have access to auto-generated transcripts!” Here is an example from our daily update, showing named voices.
• The third biggest news podcast in the UK, Politics Joe has put its video podcast behind a Patreon paywall. The audio version will remain free for all. The company said that its dependence on YouTube was a business risk; and that its audio version was earning twice as much revenue, despite attracting half the audience. The company claims to have attracted 350 paying subscribers in just five days, each paying £8 (US$10.50) per month for access.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Don't sell a Patreon ❌, sell your subscription ✅! — Supporting Cast is completely white labeled, so your brand is always front and center. Build YOUR subscription & community, not Patreon's
• Audiencelift - YouTube Channel Growth for Podcasts — Ready to grow your podcast on YouTube? With targeted strategies, you can increase visibility, attract listeners, and turn views into subscribers. Start growing your YouTube Channel Today!

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Mamamia, PodMatch, The $100 MBA, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Sounds Profitable, audioBoom, Resound, Audiohook, Cohost, SALT, RedCircle, Simplecast, Podscribe, Steve Lack: Audio, Riverside.fm, Jar Podcast Solutions, Podchaser, Awesound, Knucklehead Media Group, Podpage websites, Acast, We Edit Podcasts, Disctopia, Evergreen Podcasts

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, Magellan AI, Ask Ralph Christian Finance, Red Seat Ventures, The Podcast Haven, Podium , Jonekiri, Voxtopica, Gumball, SoundStack, Frequency, Compliance Podcast Network, Castbox, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Gilded Audio, POW PR, The Roost, Truefans, Storyboard, Tink Media, Huberman Lab, Ausha, Podcastpage, Message Heard, Health Podcast Network, Podcast Taxi, Lemonada Media, Rhapsody Voices, Oxford Road, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Zvook, matchmaker.fm, Transistor, Ossa Collective, Jam Street Media, Rephonic, Heartcast Media50, Headliner, Wondery, Diversion Podcasts, Blubrry, Double Elvis Productions, Optimal Living Daily, Castos, Content10x, Hear.Here.Singapore, Podcast Partnership, StreamGuys, Ad Results Media, Cleanfeed, She Podcasts, Sonix, Podcast Movement, Podigy, Adopter Media, Revolver Podcasts, Lower Street, School of Podcasting, Signal Hill Insights, Edison Research

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Claudio Schwarz