What's inside this article:
Basic information
Podcasts on Pangea sites are managed via Categories. This works as follows:
- Every podcast is connected to one Category.
- If the podcast is connected to a Radio Category, every audio clip from Category is treated as an episode of the podcast.
- If the podcast is connected to a TV Category, every video from the Category is treated as an episode of the podcast.
- In the Category settings, you need to specify how the podcast is promoted on the public site and via third-party platforms.
This article explains how to set up a Category for podcast distribution.
Open the Category settings
To open the list of Categories for your site, go to Settings > Categories (Zones).
Follow the relevant step below:
- To edit an existing Category, select the name.
- To create a new Category, select + Add new.
The Edit Category (Zone) screen opens.
General settings
The following general settings on the Edit Category (Zone) screen are important for podcast distribution:
Title
Under Title, enter the name of the podcast. The title is visible:
- On the public site
- Via third-party distributors (such as Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts)
Program pages
Under Program Pages, select the appropriate option:
- Radio: Create a Radio category for distributing an audio podcast.
- TV: Create a TV category for distributing a video podcast.
Program description
Under Program Description, enter a brief description of the podcast. The description will be visible:
- On the public site
- Via third-party distributors (such as Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts)
Program image
Under Program image, provide original artwork for the podcast in horizontal format. We recommend providing an image that fits the 16:9 aspect ratio. For detailed information about aspect ratio, see the following article:
The Program image is displayed only on the public site. For example, it is visible on the RSS / Podcasts page.
Podcast enabled
It is essential to tick Podcast Enabled if the Category is intended for podcast distribution.
The main podcast settings are only visible when this option is ticked.
Podcast settings
The following podcast settings are only visible when Podcast enabled is ticked:
Podcast image
Under Podcast Image, provide original artwork for the podcast in square format. The image must meet the following criteria:
- Size: 1400px x 1400px
- Format: .png or .jpg
The Podcast Image is displayed via third-party distributors (such as Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts). The image is applied as the main podcast image as well as the image for individual episodes.
The Podcast Image is also visible on the public site (for example, on the subscription options dialog).
Backtracks ID
Podcast tracking is available using the third-party Backtracks tool. This functionality is being rolled-out gradually in close cooperation with USAGM OPR. If available, the Backtracks ID might be entered by the relevant digital strategy team.
Podcast category
Under Podcast Category, select the most appropriate category for the podcast. Your selection determines how the podcast is categorized and promoted via third-party distributors (such as Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts).
Podcast type
Under Podcast Type, select the appropriate podcast type:
- Episodic (selected by default): Episodes are stand-alone units that can be played in any order.
- Serial: Episodes are part of a continuous narrative that is told chronologically.
If you select Serial, it will be required to assign a season and an episode number for all new episodes of the podcast. For detailed information, see the following article:
Third-party distributor URLs
A URL box is available for all supported third-party distributors. When the podcast is listed via a new distributor, enter the URL in the relevant box. This means the URL for the podcast page on the third-party distributor's website.
When a visitor hits Subscribe on the public site, a list of third-party podcast platforms appears. The list includes all platforms that have an assigned URL in the Category settings.
Save changes
Changes on the Edit Category (Zone) screen are not saved unless you click the Save button. If you leave the screen without hitting Save, all changes will be lost and you will not be notified.
