CNN recently added a new "Podcasting" page that offers their podcast feeds and explains how to subscribe to them. Of course, CNN is just one of many professional broadcasters now offering their audio via downloadable podcast. Some, like Jim Rome and Rush Limbaugh’s podcasts, require a subscription. CNN’s is completely free, and is updated twice daily.
Professional broadcasters are entering the podcast game in a big way, and the ball has only started rolling. Up until now, podcasting has, for the most part, been the domain of amateur hobbyists, who podcast about their various interests, ranging from religion to snowmobiling. The unique flavor of hobbyist podcasting has contributed to its popularity- The main reason I listen to podcasts instead of the radio is precisely because of this aspect. Rather than being forced to listen to the limited scope of topics aired on broadcast radio, I can listen to a show about a very specific topic that I’m acutely interested in.
That being said, most hobbyist podcasters simply will not be able to compete with a professional’s delivery or production values. As much as I hate to say it, if hobbyist podcasters attempt to compete with professional podcasts by tackling the same issues in the same format, they’re going to lose. To an Average Joe who is listening to podcasts for the first time, a hobbyist podcast is going to sound like "Radio Junior." However, hobbyist podcasts will continue to thrive as long as they cater to a defined niche and offer unique viewpoints.
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