Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr, is acquiring podcast app Pocket Casts. The company shares few details about the acquisition, but it says it is exploring options for “deep integrations” between WordPress.com and Pocket Casts.
“As part of Automattic, Pocket Casts will continue to provide you with the features you need to enjoy your favorite podcasts or find something new,” Automattic writes in a blog post . “We will be looking into developing deep integrations between WordPress.com and Pocket Casts, making it easier to distribute and listen to podcasts.”
It had been known for some time that former Pocket Casts owners planned to sell the service. Current wrote in January that the board of the app had voted to sell the app. Pocket Casts would turn a loss; For example, NPR would have lost $800,000 on the service in 2020.
It is unknown how Automattic plans to monetize the service in the future. The previous owners of Pocket Casts introduced a new revenue model for the service in 2019 , in which the Pocket Casts mobile app became free and a Plus service was introduced for $1.20 per month or $12.10 per year. That subscription includes access to the web version and desktop apps for Windows and macOS, an Apple Watch app and 10GB of cloud storage for media.
It is not known whether this current subscription form will be continued after the acquisition by Automattic has been completed. It is also not known what amount is involved in the acquisition and when the acquisition is expected to be completed.
