> Starting in May, listeners [...] can sign up for premium subscriptions that include a variety of benefits curated by creators, such as ad-free listening, access to additional content, and early or exclusive access to new series.
Some podcasts I listen to already do this via Patreon. The additional content is great for me as a listener and it has allowed a number of the creators to turn their hobby into part- or even full-time jobs. If Apple can make this easier than Patreon (where you have to figure out how to import a private feed into your podcast app), while still allowing the podcasts to exist outside their ecosystem, it's a win for everyone.