Castbox Launches Native Paywall Solution For Podcast Publishers And Signs Wondery As First Partner
SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Castbox today announced a native paywall solution and premium subscription model that enables podcast creators and publishers to distribute paid content through Castbox's award-winning podcast app. Wondery, the leading podcast network behind popular series like Young Charlie, American History Tellers and Dirty John, will be the first major partner to introduce native premium subscription offerings on Castbox in a newly minted partnership.
As creators and publishers explore new ways to monetize content while also providing listeners with a richer experience, Castbox is the first podcast player to introduce a third-party distribution model for premium content.
Paid subscriptions can provide a bevy of perks and distinct experiences for dedicated listeners, as well as drive deeper engagement for publishers, but the current user experience remains highly fragmented. Users who want to access premium content must insert their payment information on the publisher's website or a third-party platform, copy a private RSS feed, and then manually add the feed to their preferred podcast player. This multi-step process requires users to jump back and forth between platforms and could potentially deter them from subscribing to premium content.
Castbox addresses this issue by consolidating the cumbersome subscription process into a single platform where users can discover, unlock, and consume premium content without leaving the app. Castbox eliminates user friction and makes paid subscriptions easily accessible so publishers can generate more revenue and grow their following.
"There's a lot of excitement in the podcast industry around the premium subscription model but the actual user experience is quite clunky to say the least," said Renee Wang, co-founder and CEO of Castbox. "As a brand agnostic platform, we want our users to enjoy diverse, high-quality content. Our paywall solution for publishers eliminates existing barriers and makes the content easy to access, so listeners can support their favorite creators without having to jump through hoops."
Leveraging Castbox's new paywall solution, Wondery will offer users a seamless way to sign up for Wondery+, a premium subscription that gives members early access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive previews, and more. As Wondery wins over a new generation of active listeners and becomes the premiere destination for immersive storytelling, Castbox makes it easier for listeners to support Wondery's growing roster of podcasts.
"The on-demand audio space is growing rapidly but there's still a ton of opportunity that has yet to be tapped," said Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez. "Our partnership with Castbox will help us reach new listeners and increase subscriptions so we can continue to produce captivating shows and provide our listeners with an unparalleled audio experience."
The new paywall solution is the latest effort by Castbox to develop innovative technologies that enhance the podcast experience for creators and listeners. The paywall solution is one of several firsts for Castbox, as is In-audio Search, a unique feature that lets users search keywords and terms within the actual audio, and ContentBox, the first blockchain platform that aims to decentralize the podcast industry.
About Castbox
Castbox is an award-winning global podcast platform that enables anyone to easily find, access, create and enjoy spoken audio content. Castbox gives users access to endless content in multiple languages, anywhere, through any device. Castbox's proprietary technology includes features like curated podcast recommendations and in-audio deep search to customize the listening experience.
SOURCE Castbox
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