From our daily newsletter, the latest from podnews.net. As we suggested last week, podcast studio Kast Media has announced it's emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring with overwhelming support of its creditors, they say. As Podnews covered, the company continued to trade through the process, which founder Colin Thomson says was heavily scrutinised. (Sorry, Colin.) Thomson has become chief creative officer.
Kast Media's new CEO will be Matty Staudt, who joins from iHeart, Stitcher and Jamstreet Media. Kast has also published a PACT - a platform for advertiser-to-creator transparency, which it describes as an operational structure that provides our creators with visibility and protection of fund flow each step of the way.
It follows posts from founder Colin Thomson, one explaining what happened to Cast and another discussing how creators are paid and proposing a new set of protective standard practices that better care for creators. Whatever you might think of Thomson - he appeared to threaten us as we reported the initial story - it's an open and illuminating set of posts.
"If we don't nail this, we'll be essentially telling podcasters that their only real options for podcast video are YouTube and Spotify." That's the Podcast Standards Project, publishing its thinking behind HLS delivery of video podcasting via OpenRSS. Benefits include one RSS feed that can contain both audio and video and adaptive quality for all consumers, as well as potentially producing consumption analytics and lowering bandwidth bills.
HLS streams can still be downloadable if required. Wondercraft has launched Convo Mode, which it describes as realistic AI dialogue for podcasts, ads and training. The tool is similar to Notebook LM, but allows you to edit the output and its length and customise the voices. Nominations are open for the People's Choice Podcast Awards in just under a month, so it's time to register your podcast if you've not already done so, we're told.
And thanks to the developer of Podcast Addict, Xavier Guillemane, for becoming our latest personal supporter. Podcast Addict is the number one independent podcast app on Android, with a wealth of features and opportunities to market your show. It's supporters like Xavier, who allow pod news to be free for everyone and to fight for open podcasting everywhere. You can join Xavier at podnews.net slash Patreon.
In People News, in Australia, SCA has made a number of changes to the leadership team of Listener, its proprietary audio app, including promotions for Grant Tothill, Sam Cavanagh and Mike Williams. And in podcast news, the Binge Cases Catch Me If You Can, is new from Sony Music and Campside Media.
It's the shocking story of Ken Chu Wen Long, who allegedly scammed people out of millions, charming his way into the lives of regular people, only to leave them questioning who they let into their circle. And Grit and Growth Business is new today from the Ask Ralph Media Network, a show for small business owners about the struggle, the relentless grind, and the breakthrough moments that make it all worthwhile and the clear, practical coaching to continue growing.
And that's the latest from our newsletter. To read all the stories and subscribe for free, we're at podnews.net.