Apple says paid Apple Podcast subscriptions are seeing a 300% growth over the last year. Apple Podcast subscriptions allow listeners to enjoy several podcasts with no ads, as well as other benefits.
Over 25% of the top 100 shows in Apple’s “Top Shows” chart now offer a subscription. Apple did not share exactly how many subscriptions or subscribers it has on Apple Podcasts.
The news of the 300% increase in subscriptions came as a part of a Digiday article on Monday, covering NBC’s “Dateline” podcasts move, where it will offer a paid podcast subscription through Apple’s in-app product starting Monday.
“Dateline Premium” costs users $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, and provides a selection of true crime podcasts to subscribers. Bonus episodes, as well as early access to Dateline’s tenth podcast, “Internal Affairs,” along with early access to other shows and ad-free listening.
Apple wets its beak to the tune of 30% of podcast subscription revenue, dropping to 15% after one year. The subscription fees could add up to a nice piece of change for both Dateline NBC and Apple. In July, audio versions of Dateline’s TV broadcasts enjoyed over 30 million downloads. On Apple’s podcast charts, Dateline is in eighth place, third under the true crime category.