It's the end of a podcasting era.
Stitcher, a popular podcast app, has announced(opens in a new tab) that it will be shutting down in August. The podcast platform will officially close on Aug. 29, just over 15 years after it first launched.
The company was founded in 2008 and was one of the earliest podcast-player platforms launched specifically for podcast listeners. Stitcher had subsequently been acquired by Deezer and Midroll Media over the years before SiriusXM bought the company for $325 million in 2020.
In a note posted in a newly added "Stitcher Farewell" section(opens in a new tab) on its website, Stitcher explains why the app is being shut down.
"SiriusXM, the owner of Stitcher, is focused on incorporating podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription business," reads the Stitcher announcement. "Subscribers can listen to podcasts within the SiriusXM app and will see an all-new listening experience later this year."
Stitcher will shut down as well as the Stitcher Premium service, which provided users with ad-free episodes and exclusive podcast content for $4.99 per month.
However, according to Stitcher, it expects the brand name to live on in its podcast production companies, which will continue to produce shows for SiriusXM.
"We expect to continue to operate our Stitcher Studios and Earwolf networks," the company said.
