Podcasts

Interesting discussion on podcasts on LinkedIn that caught my eye (rather than my ear)
Is Podcasting Radio? Do people still care?

Does radio need to be live, are podcast and on demand audio formats (BBC iPlayer / Soundcloud) now as important and excepted by the listening public as live radio.

A mate of mine recently said "Podcasts are dead" is that true to you or have they evolved into something else?
Could audio books be classed as a form of on demand radio programming? I really interested in hearing what people think.
6 comments
Marc L. • I think podcasting is a strong part of the on demand media choices out there. Just take a look at sites like BlogTalk where anyone with an opinion can do a show. Mind you, the quality might not be the best, and the talent might be a bit rusty, but it gives the host the chance to be their own "voice of reason". From a listener perspective, people don't have to wait to listen to a radio program (or don't have to miss a radio program) as a result of podcasting. And, listeners can fine tune their listening choices thanks to podcasts. Dead? Nahh...just quietly lurking in the shadows.

Radio, in it's purest form, should always be "live", but the term "radio" is changing itself.

Robin D. • Taking it literally, podcasting is not radio.
"Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies significantly below those of visible light." - Wikipedia
"Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium." - Wikipedia So in reality, podcasting is another form of broadcasting, and has established itself as a prominent means of enjoying exclusive and diverse material without being tied to a piece of equipment at a set time in a set place. The sheer flexibility and variety of available podcasts, and the ease with which anyone can put out their own ones makes it a serious force to be reckoned with. As Marc says, "quietly lurking in the shadows", it's still the Web's best kept secret and has huge potential. The technology is expanding all the time, and our biggest increase in feedback now comes from the ability to play podcasts on car stereos.

When is an audio book classed as a form of on demand radio? I would say when it takes the form of a podcast downloaded from a radio station's website, such as a play, comedy show or documentary. If it is purchased in a bookshop or supermarket and marketed as an audio book, then it is definitely an audio book. To use the old adage - if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and feels like a duck, then it's definitely a duck!