The NPR One app does collect statistics such as when do user start and stop podcasts etc. I remember them mentioning the app in a couple of their podcasts and how they use that data to improve their podcasts. It's very likely that they will use Pocket casts for that purpose and it's probably why they bought Pocketcasts, since so few people use the NPR One app.
The notion is valid but users clearly don't want to be tracked. NPR One lost and they still continue to push it and will likely convert Pocket Casts. I find the news discouraging at best.
"clearly don't want to be tracked" is probably relative.
To be honest I would totally be cool with letting podcast producers know when I play a thing and pausing and whatnot. I think it might be useful to them for improving things and making stuff be better cut.
The counterpoint is that this stuff would probably also be used for ads. But there's already ads in the podcasts? I'm pretty desensitized to targeted ads at this point...
