Introduction to Podcast Value Time Split
The Value Time Split (VTS) feature in Podcasting 2.0 is changing how podcasters earn money and credit collaborators. Built on the Value4Value (V4V) model, VTS allows creators to share listener contributions in real time with guests, musicians, or other sources featured in an episode. It’s a major step forward in fair monetization for podcasts.
What is Value4Value?
Value4Value (V4V) is a direct support model where listeners send money—usually in cryptocurrency—straight to podcasters. Instead of relying only on ads or subscriptions, creators receive:
- Boosts – one-time contributions.
- Boostagrams – boosts that include a short personal message.
- Streaming sats – tiny ongoing payments sent while listening.
These methods make support personal, instant, and transparent.
Why Value Time Split?
Originally, the Podcasting 2.0 value tag allowed podcasters to set up revenue splits across an entire episode. But what if you wanted to share revenue only during a guest’s segment or while playing a song? That’s where Value Time Split comes in. VTS adds a time element, letting podcasters assign support to specific sections of their show.
How Value Time Split Works
- When preparing your episode, open the VTS menu in the Blubrry dashboard.
- Define a time block (e.g., minutes 10:00–14:00).
- Assign an external creator with a value block in their RSS feed (such as a musician or guest).
- Any boosts or streaming sats received during that segment are automatically split with that creator.
For example: if you play Podsafe music from an artist who has a value block, you can tag that segment. When listeners boost during that part, part of the support goes directly to the artist’s digital wallet.
Examples in Action
Musicians can now receive direct payment whenever their songs play in a podcast. Adam Curry’s Boostagram Ball is a live example, where every track has its own value tag. Podcasters can also use VTS to share revenue with guests, authors of referenced articles, or other podcasts they feature.
Technical Requirements
- A podcast, music, or audiobook RSS feed that supports value tags.
- A digital wallet such as GetAlby connected to the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
- A podcast app that supports Podcasting 2.0 features, such as Castamatic, Podverse, or CurioCaster (full list here).
Streaming Sats Explained
“Sats” are satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin (100 million sats = 1 BTC). With streaming sats, listeners send micropayments per minute while listening to your show. Because Lightning Network transactions are fast and low-fee, this makes real-time micro-support possible. Think of it as a “pay-what-you-like” tip jar that runs while people listen.
Why Value Time Split Matters
- Fair compensation – Guests, musicians, and collaborators are paid instantly for their contribution.
- Transparency – Everyone can see exactly who received support and when.
- New monetization models – Beyond ads and subscriptions, podcasters now have decentralized options for income.
Conclusion
The podcast Value Time Split is more than a technical feature—it’s a shift in how creators and audiences interact. Podcasters can share value in real time with collaborators, and listeners can support exactly what matters to them. With Podcasting 2.0 and Blubrry, the future of podcast monetization is already here.