Australians and Indians are changing how—and where—they listen to and watch their favorite podcasts and videos, with new research and innovations revealing just how quickly digital habits are evolving in both countries. While Australians are flocking to platforms like Spotify and YouTube for podcasts, Indian users are quietly sidestepping YouTube ads with a browser-based trick, all without spending a cent on premium subscriptions. It’s a story of shifting loyalties, technological workarounds, and the ever-present quest for a better, more seamless listening and viewing experience.
According to the latest Podpoll 25 survey, conducted by Deadset Studios and analytics firm Insightfully, podcast listenership in Australia has surged by 1.47 million over the past year, reaching a record 9.6 million Australians over the age of 15. That’s a sizable chunk of the population tuning in, with more than half—54%—consuming between one and three hours of podcasts each week. And perhaps most striking, about 2.8 million Australians now listen to podcasts daily, as reported by Deadset Studios.
The survey, which polled 3,768 participants aged 15 and older, found that comedy, news and current affairs, and crime are the three most popular genres. Health and wellbeing, sport, and society/culture also have devoted followings. But it’s not just what Australians are listening to—it’s where they’re listening that’s shaking up the industry.
Apple Podcasts, once the undisputed king of the podcast world, has seen its dominance slip dramatically. Only 20% of Australian podcast listeners now use Apple’s platform, according to the Podpoll 25 survey. In stark contrast, Spotify has become the new leader, with 58% of respondents saying they use the Swedish streaming giant to get their podcast fix. YouTube, too, has seen a remarkable rise: 44% of listeners now use it for podcasts, up from just 30% a year ago. That’s a jump that’s hard to ignore, especially since YouTube wasn’t even designed as a podcasting platform in the first place.
So, what’s driving this shift? For one, Spotify’s aggressive push into podcasting has paid off. Back in 2020, the company shelled out more than US$1 billion to secure exclusive deals with big-name personalities like Joe Rogan, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Kim Kardashian, Bill Simmons, Dax Shepard, and even the Obamas. The aim? To make Spotify the go-to destination for podcasts. Although Spotify has since relaxed some of those exclusivity deals, preferring to maximize ad revenue across platforms, the strategy worked—at least in Australia. Spotify is now the most popular podcast platform in the country, a fact confirmed by the Podpoll 25 survey.
YouTube’s rise is perhaps even more intriguing. Despite its mobile app’s notorious quirk—audio cuts out when you minimize the app or switch windows, unless you’re watching a video podcast—Australians are embracing the platform in droves. The Podpoll 25 report suggests that this may be due to the growing popularity of “vodcasts” (video podcasts) among younger audiences. Deadset Studios Director Kellie Riordan noted, “Some people discover podcast episodes on YouTube thanks to its search engine functionality, but then they’re actually just listening to the episode. So in this way they’re often using YouTube like they did a radio.”
It’s not just a local phenomenon, either. According to a U.S. survey by Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights, Apple’s share of weekly podcast listeners has dropped from 29% in 2019 to just 12% in 2024, while YouTube’s share has soared from 15% to 31%. Spotify, meanwhile, sits in the middle at 21%. The term “podcast” may have originated from Apple’s iPod, but the future of podcast listening seems to be unfolding elsewhere.
The demographic breakdown in Australia is also telling. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the charge, with 66% and 58% of those groups, respectively, counted as regular podcast listeners, according to the Podpoll 25 survey. Both groups have seen significant growth—up 10% and 8% from the previous year. Gen X lags behind at 44%, and only 27% of Boomers are regular listeners. Clearly, younger Australians are driving the podcast boom, and they’re doing it on their own terms—often on platforms that weren’t originally built for podcasts at all.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Indian users are finding their own ways to optimize digital experiences—especially when it comes to watching YouTube. As India TV News reported on August 19, 2025, Reliance Jio’s JioSphere browser has become a quiet sensation among users seeking an ad-free YouTube experience without the need for third-party apps or costly YouTube Premium subscriptions.
Here’s how it works: users download the JioSphere browser from Google Play Store or Jio App Store, then enable the built-in ad blocker by navigating to Settings under Privacy & Security. Once activated, this feature filters out most unwanted ads—including those pesky YouTube interruptions. Just open www.youtube.com within JioSphere, sign in if needed, and enjoy videos with far fewer interruptions. The ad-blocking is browser-based, so it only works when watching YouTube through JioSphere, not the official YouTube app. Still, for many, it’s a game-changer.
JioSphere offers a few other perks as well: Desktop Mode for those who want a more PC-like YouTube experience, a Quick Shortcut button for faster access, and Dark Mode for comfortable nighttime viewing. Some ads may still slip through, but the majority are blocked, according to India TV News. For those who want a completely ad-free experience across all devices, YouTube Premium remains the official route, but JioSphere’s solution is a welcome workaround for those unwilling to pay extra.
These shifts—whether it’s Australians choosing Spotify and YouTube for podcasts, or Indians turning to JioSphere for ad-free video—underscore a broader trend: users are demanding more control, flexibility, and value from their digital platforms. Companies that can adapt to these changing preferences, either by offering exclusive content, innovative features, or clever workarounds, stand to win big in the battle for attention.
As platforms continue to evolve and users become more savvy about how they consume content, the lines between audio and video, entertainment and information, and even official and unofficial solutions are blurring. For now, one thing is clear: listeners and viewers aren’t just following the crowd—they’re actively shaping the future of digital media, one click, tap, and workaround at a time.
