Samsung has introduced a new way for its smartphone users to access podcasts, thanks to a new partnership with a prominent podcast hosting platform. The Samsung Free app was already a source for Galaxy phone users to consume TV shows, movies, games, and news articles. With this partnership, podcasts are being added to the app's content lineup and at a time when the medium is more popular than even before.
Samsung Free is the app that recently replaced Samsung Daily, which was an information-focused app similar to the likes of Google News. By comparison, Samsung Free leans more into entertainment, offering access to TV shows and movies through Samsung TV Plus without the need for a subscription. The new app has acted as a way for Samsung mobile users to tap into what the company describes as a "curated entertainment center."
Confirmed in a Libsyn press release, the podcast hosting platform has partnered with Samsung to launch a podcast section in the "Listen" tab in Samsung Free. There, anyone in the U.S. with a Galaxy S21, Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy Note 10 series phone will be able to access podcasts for free starting today. According to a report from Engadget, Samsung claims that the partnership will offer "thousands" of podcasts to listen to, including This American Life, NPR, and iHeartMedia.
Considering it is free, Samsung Free's new podcast tier does have one major positive going for it. As long as users have a supported Samsung smartphone, they'll be able to listen to as many podcasts as they want without having to pay a fee, sign up for a subscription, or even download another app. That alone will give Samsung some leverage compared to other subscription services that offer podcasts. The problem is, the availability of both the Samsung Free app and quality podcast programming will likely hurt its popularity. The app is only available to Samsung smartphone users after all, meaning the company (and podcasters) is already missing out on audiences that use an iPhone or a different Android mobile device. In addition, Samsung Free will probably have a tough time stacking up against entities like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, both of which have invested considerably in hosting exclusive podcasts.
To be fair, Samsung Free's new podcast agreement isn't really meant to position the app as a major player in the podcast world. It will offer Samsung users greater access to free content, and that is an objectively good thing for Galaxy smartphone owners. As nice of an addition as it is, though, Samsung Free's podcast tier isn't likely to have a significant impact on podcasting.
Source: Samsung, Libsyn, Engadget
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