Podcast Posers
It seems like some people are calling programs podcasts that really aren't. According to a recent survey by Bridge Data more than 80% of podcast downloads never make it to a portable player or another device. They are consumed on the desktop.
(Via digg.)
Yeah, I can see some truth in that. I've tried taking Yaro Starak out in my iPod for a walk, but he always gets drowned out by traffic.
Mental image of me trying to stuff Yaro into my iPod? Priceless...
Posted by: Gerard McGarry | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 08:58 AM
More likely it is the definition that needs changing -- stipulating the use of a portable player. I've always thought the biggest benefit to listeners was the push, so they could listen when it was convenient. On whatever device they choose. Reading the report you cite, authors seem to be coming to same conclusion.
Posted by: Susan Getgood | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 09:17 AM
Interesting. I'd never actually looked at the 'definition' and certainly when I describe it I always emphasise the download and subscription bit. The device pretty irrelevant, I listen to about 50-60% on my desktop.
The portable device bit is certainly a turn-off for most people I speak to. Not enough people have them. I think the main listeners on the move are only those people living in big public transport/commuter areas (which I don't).
Posted by: Stuart Bruce, BMA PR | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 09:22 AM
The definition of a podcast has nothing to do with how it is ultimately consumed. A podcast is defined by how it is distributed.
Consumers are the ones who make the choices as to where, when and how they consume the content. That's the beauty of podcasting. Their method of consumption does nothing to change the definition of the distribution method.
Posted by: Rob S | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 11:26 AM
That particular statistic is by Bridge Data, but the article is by The Diffusion Group. Make sure to give them props. They're good people.
Posted by: John | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 11:55 AM
Whenever we talk about podcasting with our clients we demonstrate on a laptop first to try to avoid the misconception. Anyone care to throw a new moniker into the ring?
Posted by: American Copywriter | Friday, March 24, 2006 at 12:27 PM
Interestingly, Podtrac has released figures, based on their survey of 19,508 podcast listeners, that 41% listen on their computer and 56% listen on their MP3 player.
This information is available on the Tech Podcast Roundtable video from March 11th starting at the 34m49s mark.
Posted by: Jason | Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 11:36 AM
I agree with Rob S - the definition of a podcast should concern itself more with the distribution method, rather than whether its consumed on a PC, media centre, or portable audio device.
That begin said, there are still a LOT of podcast posers, but in a slightly different form: these are people or organisations (mostly the latter) who label every single mp3 file you can download from their sites a podcast ...
To me a podcast is about the automatic delivery via subscription, so I don't have to go back to their website on the off-chance they've posted a new mp3 that I WANT TO LISTEN TO from them...
Posted by: pascoe | Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 10:42 PM
I don't think the definition of podcast does, or should, include downloading to a personal device. It's enough to have it be an audio or video file that someone can subscribe to, download, and play on their schedule. Anything else is overkill, and goes too far in trying to tell people how to consume content.
Posted by: Stan Sorensen | Monday, March 27, 2006 at 12:31 PM
I am the same oppinion than Stan is.
Posted by: Masco | Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 11:59 AM