Yahoo has announced that it will be closing the doors on Yahoo Podcasts, the podcast search and listening directory launched by Yahoo two years ago.

Yahoo Podcasts has been in beta since its invention and never really made it into the acceptance of the Yahoo Network. With rumors swirling that Yahoo is also going to restructure Yahoo Music in an effort to cut costs or unify their entertainment channels under search, Yahoo closing Yahoo Podcasts may be a first step.

Yahoo has developed Yahoo Blog Search and Yahoo Podcasts, but never really took them into the mainstream. They have also geared up interest in other forms of user generated media via Flickr photos and the plans of video uploads in Flickr, but will blogs and podcasts ever find their nest at Yahoo?

Perhaps Podcasts & Blog Search would have a much better home under the Yahoo Search umbrella, integrated into the index, instead of trying to find guest rooms under Yahoo News or other established channels. Besides, wouldn’t a Podcast Shortcut be quite useful in search results?