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Update Frequency

<podcast:updateFrequency>

This element allows a podcaster to express their intended release schedule as structured data and text.

Parent

<channel>

Count

Single

Node value

The node value is a free-form string, which might be displayed alongside other information about the podcast. Please do not exceed 128 characters for the node value or it may be truncated by aggregators.

Attributes

  • complete (optional): Boolean specifying if the podcast has no intention to release further episodes. If not set, this should be assumed to be false.
  • dtstart (optional): The date or datetime the recurrence rule begins as an ISO8601-fornmatted  string. If the rrule contains a value for COUNT, then this attribute is required. If the rrule contains a value for UNTIL, then the value of this attribute must be formatted to the same date/datetime standard.
  • rrule (recommended): A recurrence rule as defined in iCalendar RFC 5545 Section 3.3.10 .

Examples

Recreating most of Apple Podcasts Connect’s “Update Frequency” values is easily achieved:

<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=DAILY">Daily</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY">Weekly</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY;INTERVAL=2">Biweekly</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=MONTHLY">Monthly</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=MONTHLY;INTERVAL=2">Bimonthly</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=MONTHLY">Monthly</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=YEARLY">Yearly</podcast:updateFrequency>

However, greater precision can be easily communicated:

<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=DAILY;INTERVAL=1;BYDAY=MO,TU,WE,TH,FR">Every weekday</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY;BYDAY=MO,WE">Every Monday and Wednesday</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY;BYDAY=FR;BYMONTHDAY=13">Every friday the 13th</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=+4TH;BYMONTH=11">
    Every year on American Thanksgiving
</podcast:updateFrequency>

Limited-run podcasts can indicate when they’ll go on hiatus by setting an UNTIL date or a COUNT:

<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY;INTERVAL=2;BYDAY=MO;COUNT=10" dtstart="2023-08-28T00:00:00.000Z">
    Every other Monday for 10 episodes starting on Aug 28, 2023
</podcast:updateFrequency>
 
<podcast:updateFrequency rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=2023-12-31T00:00:00.000Z;BYDAY=MO">
    Every Monday until Dec 31, 2023
</podcast:updateFrequency>

Podcasts currently on hiatus can indicate their intention to resume production by setting a DTSTART value in the future:

<podcast:updateFrequency dtstart="2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z" rrule="FREQ=WEEKLY">
    Weekly, starting in 2025
</podcast:updateFrequency>

Complete podcasts with no intention to release further episodes:

<podcast:updateFrequency complete="true">That's all folks!</podcast:updateFrequency>

Podcast apps supporting update frequency

1 app/service:

Publishing/hosting tools supporting update frequency

6 apps/services:

Miscellaneous support for update frequency

1 app/service:

TxtValue