Steve Rubel posted a link to a CNBC poll that seems to indicate most people feel podcasting is nothing but a fad, and it got me thinking.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of podcasting, and I still am… Kind of.
When podcasting first started, I thought it was the most incredible thing ever. Niche shows! No commercials! I choose when to listen! Completely free!
Fast forward one year. There are more podcasts than ever, so why don’t I feel the same enthusiasm as I did a year ago?
Last year I would listen to almost any podcast, even if the sound quality was bad or the on-air personalities didn’t have "radio voices." Since then, I’ve found that my tolerance for less-than-professional shows has waned, even though that was originally part of the medium’s appeal. The "raw voices" simply don’t appeal to me as they once did. Furthermore, any "new" technology is exciting at first. Now that podcasting has been essentially mainstreamed, it’s not as new and it’s not as exciting.
Now, I don’t want to sound too pessimistic. I do listen to a number of podcasts on a near-daily basis, and I still find them all extremely entertaining. Right now on my iPod I have shows about comic books, public relations, Catholicism, video games, gadgets and technology, and paranormal activity! Such an eclectic mix will never be found on commercial radio, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s podcasting’s greatest strength. Podcasts have also made strides in how they’re delivered with the increasing use of tools like BitTorrent and iTunes. In addition, a lot of those early podcasters with the "raw voices" and bad sound quality have some experience and decent equipment under their belts, making their shows very listenable.
Ultimately, I really don’t feel podcasting will only be with us for the proverbial "15 minutes." I do think the technology is maturing, however, and the improved selection of shows allows us listeners to exercise more discretion. The biggest change for me is that I’m no longer a fan of podcasting, per se, but I am a fan of podcasts.
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