Apple is no stranger to podcasts, but is now using it to increase TV + viewers. Variety reports what Apple has introduced The line, his first combination of a podcast with an original show. Jeffery Zimbalist’s video documentary about former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher (shown here) debuts only this fall, but you can already listen to a six-part audio series on Apple Podcasts that includes interviews with Gallagher and his wife, ‘exclusive reporting’ and other insights into the soldier’s alleged criminal activity.
Gallagher was charged with war crimes in 2018 after posing for a photo with a body in Iraq. Members of the platoon went so far as to accuse him of murder. A court acquitted on all charges except one, and received a pardon from then-President Trump on the last charge in 2019. Both the podcast and the video series are aimed at not only investigating Gallagher’s crimes, but also the “complicated realities” of war. , the effect it has on soldiers and the mysterious nature of SEAL units.
The line Apple is reportedly planning to further leverage its Podcasts app as a competitive advantage, either through a potentially paid service or to record exclusive shows. It’s not hard to see why the company would explore podcast and original combinations – they can both spur the adoption of the Podcasts app and garner attention for Apple TV + productions well before their premiere. It could also help Apple counteract Spotify’s podcasts and give people reason to keep track of the software on their iPhones and Macs.