The Future of Podcasting: The Recap

Huge kudos to our guest bloggers for taking the time to write their posts!

This technology is taking off extremely quickly, especially if you consider it "started" in September of 2004.  There are many that consider podcasting the death to traditional radio and the next "big thing" to change everything.

Full disclosure, but most of you know I work in the radio industry as a General Sales Manager for Susquehanna Radio.  I do consider podcasting to be threat, but in no way will it kill the industry (for example, people were saying the same thing about CD's in cars).  It has a long way to go before its main stream.  The technology is still too "teckie" for the average person.  However, you can't put your head in the sand.

As an early adapter myself, I am listening to a number of podcasts every week on my iPod and home computer.  I'm a very big fan and see it fitting into my life as long as I can easily find content via iPodder or other aggregators. 

Personally, I have found that podcasting continues to steal time away from the TV.  Since getting TiVo, my family probably watches less than 10% of shows live.  We watch what we want, when we want and time is spent doing other things.  I spend much more time in front of my computer blogging, listening to podcasts than channel surfing like I used to.

Do I take my podcasts with me via the iPod.  You bet I do.  But I find that I listen while I'm at Starbucks, at one of my kid's multiple practices or activities.  In the car I'm generally on my cell phone or listening to radio as "work" (monitoring competitors, listening for specific content on my own station, etc.).

Traditional radio (and satellite radio) has a very good opportunity to podcast content as well.  This will most likely work best with entertainment, talk and/or sports related stations.  Favorite local jocks have an opportunity to podcast as well, but they probably have just as much opportunity to connect and drive additional Arbitron ratings by blogging consistently.  There are additional revenue streams both direct and indirect as well (sponsorships and possibly subscription fees), but it's early to tell what will work.

It's very early, but what isn't going to go away is the personalization that consumers are wanting and nearly demanding.

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tags:  podcasting | tivo | ipod | satellite radio | radio | reel reviews | dave slusher

Comments

[Greg]

Todd - this is great stuff! Nice work putting this altogether. Now to see what happens in this exciting and rapidly evolving medium :-) Thanks again.

-G