Podcasting replacing talk radio

[nickmac_wis]

Heard Leo of TWIT mention this in one of his podcasts, what does everyone think? I think that it might happen as podcast matures.

[jeffoest]

Of course not.

Radio - you just turn on and turn off.

Podcasting - you download software, subscribe, plug in a mobile device, synch up daily.... most people can't be bothered with all this or would have no idea how to even start.... a mobile device? what's that?

Radio still wins by a mile though obviously doesn't take advantage of the nice time-shifted properties of podcasts.

When podcasts are delivered automatically to a mobile device with a flick of a switch, it will start encroaching on radio. Until then, I don't think so. (just my opinion).

[roadrageradio]

Heard Leo of TWIT mention this in one of his podcasts, what does everyone think? I think that it might happen as podcast matures.

Far more likely to be the other way around, actually. As more and more mainstream radio programs launch podcasts, the small indie podcaster may be overwhelmed by name recognition and marketing budgets.

With a Tivo-like device for radio, I can time shift my favorite programs. They exist already, and they will get better.
I've got an mp3 player that I carry with me that can record an FM station for hours, even if I'm not listening, and the PogoProducts RadioYourWay lets you schedule recordings from the radio just like a VCR. If they come up with a way to scope out the commercials, it will really be big.

All that's missing is radio content that is compelling enough for people to listen to. That is the indie podcaster's only edge.

[Paranormal Podcast]

While I think podcasting is great and will be a very important development in how people use the media, it is not going to replace traditional radio anytime soon for the majority of listeners -- radio is too entrenched (multi decade install base) and too easy to dial up to be replaced by podcasting at this juncture. It may replace it quickly for early adopters (a fairly small % of the population such as those of you reading this).

Don't think that doesn't mean I'm not bullish on podcasting -- I am! I think that the opportunities for those of us who are participating now in podcasting are tremendously exciting.

This is the ground floor and I think that there are very exciting times afoot. Hey, how often does an individual get a chance to be part of a revolutionary media technology/movement?

If only 15% of the US populace (according to a recent study) is downloading podcasts now, that means we've only just begun (I can't believe I'm quoting The Carpenters).

85% are fair game...we just need to provide the content and the developers need to develop the tools to make podcatching easier.

As for indies vs. corporate, I agree that they have the upper hand -- but just as "indies" emerged from the web (Drudge, Google, Amazon) so will small players from podcasting. There is hope and I don't believe that we are all doomed by the presence of the big guys.

[MikeH]

For those of us who really enjoy talk radio, podcasting is going to replace it. For me, it already has. I'm sick of listening though large blocks of ads just to get a little programming I want. I'm tired of missing programs. I like having what I want to hear when I want to hear it.

These days, too much talk radio is just political hate-mongering. I couldn't care less about what Rush said, or what that racist in the afternoon thinks. (Savage, I think his name is.) Other than NPR, it's hard to find science programs, or anything half-way intelligent.

Yeah, pod-catching is a little cumbersome. But the tech is still new, and before long the bugs will be worked out. And while many non-tech radio listeners won't bother, most of them are old coots who hardly know how to program their TV remotes. To younger people today, MP3 players are nothing new or odd, and they will take ready programming when they find it. And when they grow tired of three-minute tunes, they will turn to podcasting and audio books.

[charleyw]

Not only will podcasting replace talk radio...it will replace radio completely. And as soon as people get tired of looking at those silly moving images, then they will get rid of their televisions and only listen to podcasts. Mainstream radio broadcasts will fall by the wayside when they realize they can't compete with grass-roots, regular people-type podcasts...even when they try to put their shows out as podcasts. People from Rush to Al Franken will try to rough up their shows to try to mimic true podcasting but it won't work. Rush will start co-hosting with his wife but the attempt will fail.

COME ON PEOPLE.....HAVE SOME OF THIS NICE REFRESHING KOOL-AID!!



Charley

[RED BAR RADIO]

Until we can make podcasting as easy as turning on the FM or AM in the CAR, terrestrial radio will always be more popular.

When people are stuck in there cars, and cant do anything else but listen to the radio - the shows that are on will do well no matter what they are.

People have to make a conscious effort to listen to a podcast - when they're in their cars, they will most likely just listen because there is nothing else to do.

I bet if the took a poll, over half the people that listen to talk radio in their cars, never listen to it elsewhere.

[obtuseangle]

With a Tivo-like device for radio, I can time shift my favorite programs. They exist already, and they will get better.
I've got an mp3 player that I carry with me that can record an FM station for hours, even if I'm not listening, and the PogoProducts RadioYourWay lets you schedule recordings from the radio just like a VCR. If they come up with a way to scope out the commercials, it will really be big.

Wow, I had no idea anything like this existed. Totally agree, if this technology becomes mainstream (i.e. standard in vehicles) AND adds a commercial slicing feature, it seems indie podcasters will have an uphill battle reaching the ears of the average listener. Although I'm not really smart enough to figure out what the financial model might look like, in terms of where talk radio will get their advertising $$$. Might everyone turn to "on-air reads" of ad copy to trick the machine? Will money flow in the reverse direction via subscription fees? I don't know, I just don't know ...

Help me out guys.

Steve
The Obtuse Angle
http://stevedupont.com

[Hittman]

Podcasting has replaced talk radio for me. At any given moment I can pick from two talk shows on the radio: NPR, which is usually interesting but often spends too long on dull subjects, or right wing radio, which is usually interesting for about ten minutes, unless Michael Savage is on, in which case the time limit has to be measured in nano-seconds. With a fistful of podcasts, I can listen to dozens of talk shows, all carefully chosen to appeal to my tastes. (Only of them are actual radio shows – Le Show, and FTL, which are different from each other in every possible way.)

But. . . even when 50% of the population has iPods surgically implanted in their skulls, there will still be plenty of people listing to the radio.

Every time new media comes along, pundits predict it will kill old media. Occasionally they’re right – records killed piano rolls, and movies killed vaudeville. But usually, they’re wrong, and the old media survives, and often flourishes, alongside the new stuff. Radio didn’t kill records – it made them more successful. TV hasn’t killed movies, it gave them a new outlet. VCRs did the same. Video never killed the radio star. And podcasting, as much as we might like it too, won’t either.

At least, not for most people.

[bazookajoeshow]

The biggest advantage radio has over podcasting is that with radio you can partipate via telephone in real or next to real time. That sense of immeadiacy and involvement that podcasting can't touch.

I've said this before, though, is that I hate talk radi but 95% of the casts I listen to are in a talk format. Hell, even my own show is in the talk format.

Peeve: I wish podcasters would stop using the word "radio" in their show title. Its like calling your car a horseless carriage.

Bazooka Joe

[Ian]

Radio and .mp3s are certainly two forms of audio, and there are definitely some areas of crossover, but the two are so different that both can easily exist simultaneously.

Listening live is a positive factor to radio, podcasting will never compete on that level.

Just as radio will never compete on a convenience/selection/time shifting level.

Radio has more to fear from wireless internet and live streaming audio than it does from podcasts, and wireless streaming won't be a threat for a long, long while. By the time it does, radio will have transitioned to HD, and far more choices will be available on radio.

The competition will certainly be interesting! Any way it goes, we all win!

[IMAO-Podcast]

Talk radio is about the only corrupting influence we didn't satirize in the latest IMAO Podcast...

http://www.imaopodcast.com/podcast/IMAO-Aug29.mp3

[charleyw]

Talk radio is about the only corrupting influence we didn't satirize in the latest IMAO Podcast...

http://www.imaopodcast.com/podcast/IMAO-Aug29.mp3
Hey!! We didn't mention talk radio either. LISTEN TO US. (are we now officially off-topic?) :lol:

[Art a GoGo]

Radio will probably die a slow and painful death. I used to love talk radio, but got so sick of the constant drone of advertisements that I turned to NPR. The rap on NPR has always been that it's super liberal. I actually think that NPR is pretty balanced. Now, all I listen to is NPR (radio and podcasts) and my favorite podcasts during my 1 hour commute. When it comes to TV, it's TIVO all the way!

[bazookajoeshow]

It really is exciting about the new ways content can be delivered to us but radio is not going to die. Radio as we currently know it might die but radio itself is not going to disappear. There is simply no cheaper way to broadcast content to many, many people. Radio is king! There are more people in the world who own radios than own television sets, nevermind computers and portable MP3 players.

I'm looking forward to hearing how radio is going to change due to podcasting and satellite radio. I imagine the bulk of radio will remain terrible but that's okay, the bulk of podcasting and sat radio is terrible. But radio will have to change just as television had to change with the advent of the 500+ cable stations.

Actually, that's a perfect analogy. How many times have you surfed through hundreds of stations and still didn't find a show that you wanted to watch. Tivo to the rescue, right? And at the same time, with the dearth of all these stations, think of how many shows you watch that are still broadcast from the major networks?

Hmmm, after three paragraphs I'm going to have to agree with you. Still, radio isn't going to die.

Bazooka Joe


Radio will probably die a slow and painful death. I used to love talk radio, but got so sick of the constant drone of advertisements that I turned to NPR. The rap on NPR has always been that it's super liberal. I actually think that NPR is pretty balanced. Now, all I listen to is NPR (radio and podcasts) and my favorite podcasts during my 1 hour commute. When it comes to TV, it's TIVO all the way!

[roadrageradio]

Talk radio is about the only corrupting influence we didn't satirize in the latest IMAO Podcast...

http://www.imaopodcast.com/podcast/IMAO-Aug29.mp3
Hey!! We didn't mention talk radio either. LISTEN TO US. (are we now officially off-topic?) :lol:

<shameless plug>
Road Rage talks about talk radio in our segment "The Limbo Files (How low can he go?)"
</shameless plug>

But seriously, this is about the fifth time the "death of radio" was at hand, and I'm not holding my breath.

Radio started with networks broadcasting live entertainment until tastes changed.

Then the radio networks became produced comedy and variety shows until that was taken over by television.

Then radio became the official promotion arm of the recorded music industry until the first payola scandal. The radio networks became little more than news and feature providers.

Then the FCC mandated that jointly owned AM and FM stations must have different content, and FM music radio was born (AM was going to die)

Then talk radio hit AM. Syndication was born.

Then corporate radio took over. Automation, voice tracking. Radio lost its soul.

Then satellite, cable tv, podcasts, tivo, hd radio, etc, etc.

Radio evolves, mutates, and survives.

The radio distribution channel is too big, too portable, too available, too much a habit to ever go away.

Question: Early Monday morning, when you were looking for news of Hurricane Katrina, where did you turn? I tuned in my local NPR station.

There will doubtless be compelling listening produced by podcasters and independent audio producers, but for breaking news of a major natural disaster, nothing beats radio.