how does one do this?

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Level 1

3 points

how does one do this?

I'm trying to remove an old podcast. Does anyone know exactly how to do what itunes is saying here? Thanks!!

Use this inside a

<channel>

element to prevent the entire podcast from appearing in the iTunes Podcast directory. Use this inside an

<item>

element to prevent that episode from appearing in the iTunes Podcast directory. For example, you may want a specific episode blocked from iTunes if its content might cause the feed to be removed from iTunes.

If this tag is present and set to "yes" (case insensitive), that means to block the feed or the episode. If the tag’s value is any other value, including empty string, it’s indicated as a signal to unblock the feed or episode. At the feed level, if there is no block tag, then the block status of the feed is left unchanged. At the episode level, if there is no block tag, it is the same as if a block=no were present.

Posted on Mar 8, 2013 8:49 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Roger Wilmut1

Level 10

131,158 points

Mar 8, 2013 9:01 AM in response to Teddygold

If you have access to the feed to edit it (or can download it, edit it in a PLAIN TEXT editor, and re-upload it) then you can add this tag immediately after the 'channel' tag which is a few lines down from the top:

<itunes:block>yes</itunes:block>

This will cause the podcast to disappear from the Store within a couple of days or so.

If you simply delete the feed the Store staff will take the podcast down anyway, though it might take a few weeks; or you can ask them to remove it:

Log into iTS.
Find and select your podcast.
Click on Report a Concern under the Links heading on the far left.
Select "Remove a Podcast" from the Choose a Reason menu.
Explain why you want the podcast removed.

If this doesn't work you could try emailing them at podcasts 'at' apple.com. If you want it removed permanently asking them to do it is better than using 'block'.

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Answer 2

Teddygold Author

Level 1

3 points

Mar 8, 2013 9:41 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

As always, very helpful Roger! Thank you!!

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Answer 3

Teddygold Author

Level 1

3 points

Apr 18, 2013 3:24 PM in response to Teddygold

Roger, thank you with the help on these podcast questions. Another question:

Would you know how I can track the downloads of my podcast in itunes?

Thank you!

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Answer 4

Apr 18, 2013 11:44 PM in response to Teddygold

iTunes doesn' offer any tracking facility. You could submit your feed to Feedburner, then the Feedburner feed to iTunes, and set up tracking in Feedburner; and it's possible that some podcast hosting services may offer tracking.

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Answer 5

Apr 19, 2013 6:42 AM in response to Teddygold

Teddy - As Roger Mentions Apple / iTunes does not provide any stats for your shows downloads.

The best way to track your downloads is to look at your stats from where you are hosting the media files.

If you are hosting with a Podcast specific Host they typically will give you the most accurate stats. Libsyn.com being one of those.

If you are self hosting - most of the time the best you can get is raw server logs - but those tend to be inflatted by multiple requests and byte-range requests and typically a self hosted server log will shows downloads 8 to 10 times greater that what is actually happening.

Regards,

Rob W

libsyn

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