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February 22, 2006
The paid-for podcast
The hilarious Ricky Gervais Show has been one of our favourite podcasts ... while The Guardian has been paying for it. Now that Audible is going to start charging for it [free preview here ], we're going to have to do some fundamental arithmetic: exactly how much enjoyment do we get out of the scenario where Karl Pilkington demonstrates that yes, it is possible for someone to survive without a brain, and Ricky and Steve show that even the purest forms of logic, ridicule and obscene language cannot penetrate a vacuum. Do we like it to the extent of, say, $US1.95 apiece?
CNet presents it as a timely exploration of podcast economics, and how the desires of a Web community to continue to enjoy everything for free, are inconveniently at odds with the equal and opposite desire of creative people to be paid for their work. Hey, we've been tussling with that one ourselves!
Posted by cw at February 22, 2006 09:41 AM
Comments
A rumour out there is they have around 3 million downloads currently... As someone pointed why can't they just have a sponsor that gets their name dropped in the podcast. For this many listeners I find that a little strange, though at the same time if you can get 3 million people to pay a buck ninety five for each podcast why not.
I don't quite think they 'get it' just yet. They need to add some real 'extra value' before people will cough up that much cash for a audio podcast when you can get TV episodes for that price.
Posted by: Stephen at February 22, 2006 11:28 AM
I'm a little disillusioned with the whole podcast thing (and I'm a podcaster!).
It was a way for average Joes to have their voice heard. However, most lists of popular podcasts are dominated by professionals and excerpts from commercial radio.
The idea of "selling" podcasts is a little sad IMHO. It is, in my mind, a perversion of their real purpose.
Posted by: Anthony Caruana at February 22, 2006 02:04 PM
I have been listening to the past 4 podcasts and think that the last one was the least funny. Only raised one good laugh.
I definitely wouldn't pay for it, nor any other podcast when I can listen to radio for free.
I'm sure that the new series will still be a hit and downloaded heaps (mainly via Bittorrent ;))
Posted by: Matt at February 22, 2006 09:10 PM