Do news consumers want to pay for an ad-free experience?

And I still don’t think the “HBO for podcasts” or “Netflix for podcasts” is structurally something that most people urgently need or want, at least in the way it’s being presented today.

Advertising captures the same value from everyone and fails to unlock incremental value from the deepest layers of fans. Subscription + à la carte models better monetize superfans.

There are extremely compelling reasons to consider diversified revenue streams. Expanding revenue beyond ads allows for the simple fact that people’s preferences change. Digital marketing experts estimate that Americans are exposed to around 4,000 to 10,000 ads daily. There is a point where you can no longer stuff more ads down a consumer’s throat;... See more