iTunes Refuses Podcaster Application

Podcaster is a brand new Application that allows you to subscribe, manage, stream and download podcasts directly to your iphone and itouch. The problem is that iTunes are refusing to distribute it. They say "Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes."

This is being strongly rejected by the creator of Podcaster as "there are numerous apps that duplicate the functionality of other apps. For example, any calculator app is duplicating the functionality of Apples calculator app. Any app that tells you the weather is duplicating the Yahoo weather app. Any app that let's you listen to music is duplicating the iPod portion of the iPhone."

It seems that without public support, or some persuasive negotiations with Apple this neat little application will be left without a distributor, if you want to find out more information on this story, follow iphonepodcaster on Twitter and read more about this unfolding saga at almerica.blogspot.com  and maybe even lend your support.

ADM Announce "Bylaws"

The Association for Downloadable Media have announced their final review draft of the bylaws in time for NewMediaExpo in Las Vegas:

The laws of California, within which the Association was created, required special review against our mission, proposed organization and charter. We also reviewed similar organizations such as the IAB and integrated language that would best serve our industry specifically. We incorporated the best approach that we think will keep ADM strong, productive and able to weather the process of growth with little to no bylaws amendment for the foreseeable future.

Bylaws can be tedious and dry. When you get a chance grab a strong pot of coffee and give it a go.

The full bylaws are available here: http://tinyurl.com/5zzm47

Delia Derbyshire - Electronic Pioneer

Born in Coventry in 1937, Delia Derbyshire became one of the 20th Century's most influential electronic composers and musicians. She worked for many years at the BBC Radiophonic workshop, creating new sounds and themes. She is also famous for arranging the score for the unmistakable Dr Who theme and is still name-checked and covered by modern electronic artists such as Aphex Twin and The Chemical Brothers.

This is from an article on the BBC website about an archive of newly found recordings.

"A hidden hoard of recordings made by the electronic music pioneer behind the Doctor Who theme has been revealed - including a dance track 20 years ahead of its time.

Delia Derbyshire was working in the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop in 1963 when she was given the score for a theme tune to a new science fiction series.
She turned those dots on a page into the swirling, shimmering Doctor Who title music - although it is the score's author, Ron Grainer, who is credited as the composer.

Now David Butler, of Manchester University's School of Arts, Histories and Cultures has revealed for the first time the existence of 267 tapes found in Ms Derbyshire's attic when she died in 2001.

They were, until last March, in the safekeeping of Mark Ayres, archivist for the Radiophonic Workshop - and have lain unheard for more than 30 years.

Amongst the recordings is some ethereal whooshing from a 1969 production of Hamlet at the Roundhouse in London; an extraordinary kit of parts for one of her most-admired pieces; and the theme for a documentary set in the Sahara which shows how she used her voice as an instrument."

Podcasting In China

I saw this very interesting article at Podcasting News ...


As mainstream media promotes itself to new heights (depths?) over the upcoming summer Olympic Games in Beijing, and with the International Olympic Committee raising hackles with its severe restrictions on blogging, podcasting and new media, it seemed like a good time to look at citizen media efforts coming from China itself. This week’s edition of the Beijing Review, an english-language publication about China, has an article about the growth in the use and popularity of podcasts in China.

The article talks about the proliferation of blogs and bloggers in the country. They cite statistics from November 2007 that “one of every 30 Chinese citizens or [one in] four netizens was writing his or her own Web log.”

Indeed, a flurry of blog, video and podcast activity by citizen-journalists in China cropped up in the aftermath of the devastating May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province. Blog, video, and podcast entries have progressed over the past six weeks from posting information about the disaster, to using these new media for inspiring and coordinating disaster relief efforts.

The article continues,

“Podcasting, which emerged at the end of 2004 in China with the launch of the first site in this regard, is also gaining popularity at a speed faster than that of any other Web service. According to official statistics, there were more than 200 podcasting sites in China in 2006, registering more than 10 million podcasters and having a viewership of 76 million. A lot of emergencies, news and gossips [sic] have been recorded live and made known to the public by home videos posted on the Internet. Prominent examples in recent years include those about the infidelity of a famous TV sport anchorman, which was brought to light by his wife at a public gathering, and a pet cat being tortured by a cruel man.

“Due to the large number of users and wide coverage, blogs and podcasts have also become major outlets of public opinion. Many bloggers and podcasters use their posts to discuss public affairs, raise suggestions and air complaints. At the same time, a growing number of officials have opened blogs to do real-time communication with the public, which is widely hailed as a new way of government transparency.”

The Beijing Review article says that most blogs and podcasts created and consumed in China, however, tend more toward entertainment than public opinion, government transparency, or citizen reporting of local news as in the Sichuan earthquake.

Podcast Ads 7 Times As Effective As Television Ads

New data from Podtrac and TNS suggests that podcasts may be a much more powerful advertising platform than television.

The companies studied podcast advertising from February 2006 to March 2008 across multiple product categories and ad types. Unaided awareness for podcast ads was 68%, compared with 21% for streaming video and 10% for television.

"The studies showed a 73% increase in likelihood to use or buy an advertised product," said Velvet Beard, vice president at Podtrac. "The studies showed that 69% of audience members have a more favorable view of in-show advertisers."

"Podcasting delivers a level of end-user engagement that is rare in today’s multi-format world," said Paul Verna, senior analyst at eMarketer.

There are many reasons why podcasts could be more effective than television. People are sick of the barrage of ads on television, so they routinely tune them out. Podcast advertising is typically much less intrusive than television advertising. It also has the potential to be much more targeted and relevant.

Because these stats come from Podtrac, a company with a vested interest in podcast advertising, marketers are likely to want to see these numbers independently reproduced.

Article taken from Podcasting News

Podshow lays off 30% of its workforce

According to a report from Podcasting News, Podcasting startup PodShow has laid off one-third of its staff.

PodShow, the San Francisco-based online-video network best known for launching the career of CNET’s Natali Del Conte, is laying off about 20 employees, or as much as 30 percent of its staff.

“There are no secrets, only information you don’t yet have,” is the slogan for former MTV VJ Adam Curry’s podcast. Curry, a PodShow cofounder, didn’t show up to deliver the bad news about the layoffs; we’re told he left that to middle managers.

None of the heavily hyped podcasting startups in the U.S have delivered on their promises, despite a one-year jump on the mainstream competition and inexorable trends driving people to podcasts and other Internet media.

It will be interesting to see how companies based in the UK will take on the wealth of new media opportunities.

Queen Elizabeth 2.0 - A Right Royal Podcast

Elizabeth Windsor, Queen of United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and sundry other remnants of the once British Empire, has moved into podcasting, starting her own YouTube channel and offering podcast downloads from her official website.

"I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct," she said from her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

"That it is possible for some of you to see me today is just another example of the speed at which things are changing all around us."

Clips from garden parties, state visits, prime ministers, investitures and a day in the life of the Prince of Wales will all be available to watch on the channel. (BBC)

88% of UK Internet Users Have Broadband

The BBC reports that broadband penetration among UK internet users has risen.

"Almost nine out of 10 UK net users are connecting via broadband services, official figures reveal.

Information gathered by National Statistics (ONS) for September show that 88.4% of Britons are choosing to use broadband rather than dial-up.

The statistics show that 49.2% of those connections are for services advertised at two megabits per second or faster.

The figure for September is only slightly up on the June total of 86.2%, but indicates a 26% rise over the last 12 months.

The statistics show that broadband has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity among net users since services started to be available and affordable.

As recently as April 2003, ONS reports, 81% of people went online via dial-up modems and only 17% had broadband.

The statistics also offer a breakdown of the speeds that people have signed up to, and show that the proportion of people on higher speeds - between two and eight megabits per second (Mbps) - has grown. Only 4% of those questioned were using services faster than eight Mbps."- BBC.

Around 10m households, or 40% of UK homes do not have internet access.

Guardian Unlimited joins UKPA

Another major media corporation has joined the UK Podcasters Association - Guardian Unlimited. At the same time, they have joined the Radio Academy, strongly signifying their further ambitions in the area.

Head of audio Matt Wells said:

"We are now a significant force in quality speech programming, with hundreds of thousands of downloads a week. For the first time, the BBC has a serious rival in this area. It makes sense to have a seat at the top table at the leading radio industry organisation, and also to be a major player in the only body that represents podcast producers in the UK."

The Guardian's audio department produces Football Weekly, one of the popular football podcasts in the UK; a daily news show, Newsdesk; Media Talk and other specialist weekly shows, and the award-winning Muslim podcast Islamophonic.

Dean Whitbread, Chair of UKPA, said:

"UKPA is pleased that Guardian Unlimited has joined our organisation, the first major publisher to do so.

With a strong tradition of liberality and independence, Guardian Unlimited considerably adds to our presence and gravitas in the online media rights space. We now represent a truly diverse grouping of professional individuals, companies and media corporations, as well as passionate, unpaid enthusiasts, and our strength is our ability to speak up for all those involved in online media.

Our key roles remain to promote and protect the UK community's interests across
the fascinating and dynamic emerging online media landscape."

BBC Launches Music Podcasts

The Guardian reports that the BBC will include 30 second music clips in their music podcasts from 12th November 2007.

From Saturday, November 17, the portfolio expands to offer podcasts including Folk & Acoustic with Mike Harding from Radio 2, Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone from 6 Music and the Asian Network Chart. 1Xtra has podcasts from a range of music genres including hip hop, dancehall and garage.
The BBC has done as much as Apple to establish podcasts within mainstream media in the UK, by promoting audio and video podcasts as part of a two year long "trial" which ended in July. Many podcast producers, including news publishers such The Guardian and the independent radio sector have voiced concerns that the state-sponsored media giant has distorted the podcasting world as it does radio and television.

It is not yet known what clearances are being used for music usage or what regimes will be applied in this still confused area of online rights and revenues. MCPS-PRS who collect royalties on behalf of writers and publishers issue a podcast licence, as do PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) the UK broadcast royalties collection society representing many music labels; this year PPL introduced the use of 30 second clips for registered broadcasters. The BBC traditionally strikes its own deals with Performing Rights Organisations, often at rates well below those paid by smaller commercial corporations.

Podcast Nation Goes Ning

Podcast Nation, the UK's most complete and up-to-date podcast directory, is to develop its community using the now well-established Ning network, at http://podcastnation.ning.com.

Podcast Nation Editor-in-Chief Mark Crook said, "Podcast Nation is a great way for both finding and promoting podcasts, and by developing our community at Ning, which has proved itself as a flexible and reliable system for building social networks, we can put podcast producers and listeners together. We've always been behind building communities - we were one of the principal sponsors of this year's highly successful PodCamp UK - and this takes us further down that path. I'm really looking forward to seeing what people will do with these powerful tools."

The UK Podcast Forum is also moving to run on the same network.

UK's First Podcaster Quits Podshow

Martin Devaughan aka Green Dragon, producer of popular five days a week podcast show Bite Size Bonus, is leaving BTPodshow, the UK version of Adam Curry's venture capital-backed US podcast business, after less than a year.

Devaughan, 48, helped to make music history when unsigned band Koopa entered the UK charts earlier this year, thanks to exposure in his podcast. He began podcasting in October 2004, and claims to be the UK's first ever podcaster, making the switch from radio and club DJ and artist management to become one of the UK's best known podcasters. He was BTPodshow's first significant signing in 2006.

"I felt the time was right to move on, not only for the show but on a personal level." he said, "Being asked to join BTPodshow was an honour, but I'm afraid not all I had hoped for was delivered."

Devaughan is to produce a completely new show for rival TPN - The Podcast Network.

"Some people may see the new show as me jumping ship from Podshow to TPN but this certainly isn't the case." Devaughan stated, "TPN has allowed me more freedom in my contract, with no network exclusivity to restrict me working as and where I want." He has also agreed to take over as host for an already establish TPN podcast, the Monday TPN Rockshow, adding "The rock show is a podcast I've been subscribed to since it first started and really enjoyed the format and when the last host left I thought it was the end of the Monday show, but when TPN offered me the slot how could I refuse the chance to bring my voice to such an exciting, much loved show."

PodShow Goes TiVo

Just in from TechCrunch:

"Adam Curry's Podshow will formally announce an alliance with TiVo next week that sees PodShow content becoming available to TiVo’s 10-12 million users in the United States.

According to our source, the news is planned to be formally announced the day before the Podcast and New Media Expo to maximize Podshow’s coverage during the event. At this stage there is no word on the deal from Podshow itself, although others have noticed the tie-up prior to today, and a TiVo page for Podshow is already available here.

We’ve also heard rumors that Podshow may announce a new round of funding next week alongside the TiVo announcement. There is no confirmation at this stage and we are waiting on a response from Podshow."

UK’s Largest National Radio Company Joins UK Podcasters Association

Commercial radio giant, GCap Media, operators of radio stations such as Capital Radio, Xfm and Classic FM has joined UK Podcasters Association, in a move that spearheads the radio industry’s integration with digital and online media. GCap is the first radio/media company to join the UKPA, which has been attracting broadcast professionals since it started in April 2006.

The move by GCap Media, who produce more podcasts than any other media company in the UK, is recognition of the role podcasts are playing in the modern media landscape.

Speaking about GCap Media joining the UKPA, Chairman Dean Whitbread said:

"This is a major endorsement of the UKPA's work and status as the leading body to establish podcasters' rights. The UKPA represents its members’ interests to regulators and would-be legislators. We've done a lot of work to establish podcasting as a medium in itself and we are really pleased to welcome GCap as a prominent member from the radio industry. It shows that they recognise both the value of the Association and the importance of podcasting. This can only be good for all."

John Hirst, Head of GCap’s podcasting company, Creation, said:

“Over the past three years we have seen millions of consumers subscribing and downloading compelling podcasts from our radio stations and our customers’ websites. We create podcasts for our radio brands, our commercial clients and other third party customers, such as The Sun. It’s now part of our core business and content offering to consumers and commercial customers alike. We are delighted to join the UKPA as it’s a neutral body set-up to support all podcasters.”

Women and Oldies Top UK Web Users, Say Ofcom

"The net, mobile phones and MP3 players are revolutionising how Britons spend their time, says Ofcom's annual report. It reveals that older media such as TV, radio and even DVDs are being abandoned in favour of more modern technology.

Surprisingly, it also shows that women, in some age groups, are the dominant web users and older web users spend more time online than any group.

Among children it showed that web and mobile phone use is growing at the expense of video games.

The average Briton now spends 50 hours per week on the phone, using the net, watching TV or listening to the radio. However, the mix of how much time is spent on each one has changed radically over the last few years.

Daily mobile phone use is up 58% on 2002 and, over the same period, net use has grown 158%. By contrast Britons spend far less time watching TV, listening to the radio or chatting on a fixed line phone.

The report revealed big differences in the technologies that different sectors of the population prefer.

For instance, among Britons aged 25-34, women account for 55% of the time this group spends online, said the report.

The 16% of the over-65s that use the web spend 42 hours per month online - more than any other age group.

Children are in the vanguard of the move to make more of new media. The report said that 75% of 11 year olds have their own TV, games console and mobile phone." - BBC News Online.