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The Download on Podcasts: Facebook sees the light of audio — but must dive deeper

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One year ago this column complained about Facebook’s lack of native audio — a feature for users to post an audio file directly to Facebook, rather than linking out to it. Facebook’s slight has been the world’s biggest example of how audio takes a back seat to video. This week, Facebook abruptly turned its face toward the light (well, the sound). Continue Reading

The Download on Podcasts: The how-to-podcast movement is on the move

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Podcast discovery — it’s a persistent challenge that affects listeners, creators, and distributors. The headline problem? An ocean of content and no easy way to dive deep. One of the best ways to make podcast content visible in general internet searching is to post transcripts. A new service tackles the audio search challenge. Continue Reading

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The Download on Podcasts: The how-to-podcast movement is on the move

sponsored by PodcastOne

Low barrier to entry — that is one of the appeals of podcasting, driving an explosion of content at the amateur, semi-pro, professional, and stardom levels. But there is a knowledge gap, and we are seeing it filled by educational initiatives that explain podcasting conceptually, as well as the technology and distribution. Continue Reading

The Download on Podcasts: CBC’s quixotic campaign against its own RSS feed

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Imagine a grocery store which puts out a free coffee bar for customers. Now image the grocery store accusing customers of shoplifting for using the coffee bar. That’s the perception of a Cease & Desist letter reportedly sent by the Canadian Broadcasting Coporation (CBC) to podcast apps, ordering them to stop distributing CBC podcasts. Pundit opinion is frowning, but the CBC is legally sound. Continue Reading

The Download on Podcasts: Discovery is a two-way street

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With over 300,000 podcasts in the market, most of which are jammed into the narrow funnel of Apple’s Podcasts app, it’s no wonder that program discovery is a prominent pain point for consumers. Discovery is emerging as an issue for distributors, too — networks who are beating the bushes for talent to create new programs. Continue Reading

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The Download on Podcasts: The monetization push for the long tail of podcasting

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The podcast category is developing into a mature business market. Money is flowing in. Media buyers are increasingly interested in the podcast opportunity, with its distinctive qualities. But there are over 300,000 podcasts. It’s a long tail of content. Two revenue paths are opening up for indie podcasts. Continue Reading

The Download on Podcasts: The Download on Podcasting (Phase One)

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Ever since first getting wind of it, we have gotten a kick out of the name collision occurring between this column’s title and the new collaborative research project of DMR/Interactive and Texas A&M University: The Download on Podcasting. We also learned more about what the year-long research project is hoping to achieve. Continue Reading

The Download on Podcasts: Arguments for and against brand advertising in podcasts

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As much as podcasting has accomplished in its two-year resurgence as an increasingly popular and mature content business category, there is a preparatory feeling to the young industry. Major challenges seem to stand between the present and a potential future in which “big money” buys into podcasting as a category standing alongside video, display, and radio. Continue Reading