Changing RSS feed, subscribers, mirror url
If I change my RSS feed to receive subscriber information will I lose subscribers? Will the mirror URL help rescue subscribers? How does this work?
podcast
To change the feed while retaining your subscribers you need to add a special tag to the original feed as described in this page:
This will permanently redirect subscribers and the iTunes Store, though you probably should also use the Podcasts Connect page to tell the Store as well. The mirror URL, which is a new facility, will only help subscribers who have subscribed manually using it, which can only happen if you publicize it. However most subscribers come from the iTunes Store and AFAIK that uses the actual URL. (It's possible that it uses the mirror URL but there's no easy way of checking this as it's a redirect so if you check the URL of a subscribed feed you get the actual one).
Thinking about it, if you simply use the Podcasts Connect page and give it a day or so, then subscribe from the Store page and check the feed URL this will show whether you get the old or the new feed.
To check the URL of a subscribed feed control-click (Mac) or right-click (Windows) on the name of the podcast in the list and choose 'Copy URL'.