Cubscast Selling Ad Blocks on Ebay This Week

[chicagosn]

To anyone interested in some cheap, effective advertising (the auction starts at just $10 for a weeklong block of advertising):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5628135675

Cubscast, a Chicago Cubs podcast, receives over 10,000 mp3 downloads a week, and is selling one-week advertising blocks that include mentions on the podcast as well as a mention on their homepage (http://cubscast.com).

They are trying to raise money to purchase better recording equipment. If you're interested in donating, there's a Paypal button on the Cubscast homepage.

More information:

http://cubscast.com

Cubscast is a part of the Chicago Sportscast Network.

[retrocrush]

How is this news, exactly?

[chicagosn]

Why wouldn't it be news that a popular podcast is selling ad space on Ebay? If Dawn & Drew did it, wouldn't it be news? Why is this different?

As well as this is a good example for other podcasters that are trying to figure out ways to gain advertisers, it's also a good opportunity for small businesses or even other podcasts to get the word out to a new audience.

[SFEley]

To anyone interested in some cheap, effective advertising (the auction starts at just $10 for a weeklong block of advertising):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5628135675

Can I buy a $10 block of advertising now, and designate my week as "the week the Cubs are in the World Series?" >9->

[kickasspodcast]

Why wouldn't it be news that a popular podcast is selling ad space on Ebay? If Dawn & Drew did it, wouldn't it be news? Why is this different?

As well as this is a good example for other podcasters that are trying to figure out ways to gain advertisers, it's also a good opportunity for small businesses or even other podcasts to get the word out to a new audience.

You gotta be joking right?

10 bucks a week? What a rip off.


Jack B.

-Totally sick of people asking for money/donations-

[SFEley]

You gotta be joking right?

10 bucks a week? What a rip off.


What's the going market rate, Jack? Nobody knows, because there isn't a mature market for this yet. If Cubscast can succeed with this, more power to 'em. I seem to recall that smaller podcasts have held EBay ad auctions that closed a bit higher than this.

And whether any amount of money is a rip off depends on the value you get back from it. If I have a Chicago restaurant, let's say, and two customers come in because they heard my ad on the podcast, I've already made back my $10 investment and then some.


-Totally sick of people asking for money/donations-
You're entitled to your opinion. However, some of us spend money on our podcasts every week. If I didn't ask for donations, my podcast couldn't exist.

(You're also entitled to your opinion on whether my podcast's existence is a good or a bad thing. But I'm going to keep doing it either way.)

[kickasspodcast]

What's the going market rate, Jack? Nobody knows, because there isn't a mature market for this yet. If Cubscast can succeed with this, more power to 'em. I seem to recall that smaller podcasts have held EBay ad auctions that closed a bit higher than this.
We'll know what the going rate for that shows advertisements if and when someone buys the adspace. I am sure other smaller podcasters have also tried to rip people off too.


And whether any amount of money is a rip off depends on the value you get back from it. If I have a Chicago restaurant, let's say, and two customers come in because they heard my ad on the podcast, I've already made back my $10 investment and then some.
I think that its a ripoff because of what they claim to be offering to the bidder. I kinda take issue with verbage in their ebay listing "The Perfect Opportunity to Advertise on a Top-Rated Podcast" Really? Top Podcast? Interesting... Do you really think that people in Chicago go to Cubcast to get their Cubs news? Maybe, maybe not...


You're entitled to your opinion. However, some of us spend money on our podcasts every week.
Dude... all of us spend money on our podcast. What do you mean by "some of us". Do you know anyone who doesn't spend money on their podcast?

If I didn't ask for donations, my podcast couldn't exist.
I don't know how this is possible. Did you start out asking for donations before you did your podcast? Or did you somehow encounter unanticipated expenses after you kicked out the 1st few shows on the cheap or something? How is it possible that the act of you not asking for donations would then force your podcast to stop existing? Maybe you mean that if people didn't donate, you wouldn't keep doing it? Maybe its not worth it to you to spend your own money on the podcast? This makes very little sense to me. I love podcasting. Its like any other hobby I have, its costs money.


(You're also entitled to your opinion on whether my podcast's existence is a good or a bad thing. But I'm going to keep doing it either way.)
I have no issues with you or your podcast man. I am sure people enjoy it.
Never heard anyone say they didn't enjoy it.


Several lower-ranked podcasts are charging upwards of $1500 a month for advertisting. While we wouldn't argue with receiving this much for advertising, we'd like for interested advertisers to set their own price.
Really? Who the hell is charging $1500 bucks a month for advertising? Its this kinda BS that makes it sketchy and dishonest. If anyone knows of "lower ranked podcasts" charging $1500 a month for advertising please let me know.

Jack B.

[chicagosn]

I guess it's not called "kissasspodcast" for a reason.

Do you know how much it costs to place an ad in subway trains and buses in Chicago? $2200, plus the printing costs for the ads. Do you know how much it costs to place an ad in a weekday Chicago Tribune? It's expensive as heck.

This ad block is just 10 bucks, and it's going to get listened to by a bunch of people all over the country.

[chicagosn]

Can I buy a $10 block of advertising now, and designate my week as "the week the Cubs are in the World Series?" >9->

Not sure if Cubscast will still be alive and kicking in 2032, but if that's when you want your week, cool.

[kickasspodcast]

I guess it's not called "kissasspodcast" for a reason.

Do you know how much it costs to place an ad in subway trains and buses in Chicago? $2200, plus the printing costs for the ads. Do you know how much it costs to place an ad in a weekday Chicago Tribune? It's expensive as heck.

This ad block is just 10 bucks, and it's going to get listened to by a bunch of people all over the country.

Of course Subway and Bus advertisements are expensive. Millions of people are exposed to them. Millions and still its just $2200 + printing? That seems relatively reasonable actually.

So I guess you can't back up the claim you make on your website where you say: Several lower-ranked podcasts are charging upwards of $1500 a month for advertisting.

I just noticed the several part.. so I'll be waiting for several examples of lower ranked podcasts charging that much.

Also the claim on your ebay listing:
"The Perfect Opportunity to Advertise on a Top-Rated Podcast"
Can you indeed verify that you are also top rated?


Seriously.. the 1st button on your website is donations... that deserves a zing or 2 no?

And I'm a Cubs fan too!

Jack

[chicagosn]

Really? Who the hell is charging $1500 bucks a month for advertising? Its this kinda BS that makes it sketchy and dishonest. If anyone knows of "lower ranked podcasts" charging $1500 a month for advertising please let me know.

http://jasoncable.com/mediakit.pdf (Page 6)

That guy is asking for exactly $1500/month for an exclusive sponsorship.

Please compare that to auctioning off $10 weeklong blocks of advertising and let us all know what you come up with.

[chicagosn]

Can you indeed verify that you are also top rated?

Cubscast has been among the Top 10 sports podcasts on Podcast Alley for the entire baseball season (April through September). June through August it was among the Top 5, including August when it was ranked #1.

Earlier this month, Cubscast held the #9 spot for nearly a week among all podcasts on Yahoo's "Highly Rated" podcasts tab.

Cubscast has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, RedEye, and mentioned on NPR's New York City affiliate, WNYC.

We're just sad that you're a Cubs fan and apparently didn't know about the show. If you ever take a break from belittling Cubscast, feel free to give it a listen, you just might enjoy it.

[kickasspodcast]

http://jasoncable.com/mediakit.pdf (Page 6)
So you can't name several? Just this one?
Why do you say several?


That guy is asking for exactly $1500/month for an exclusive sponsorship.

Please compare that to auctioning off $10 weeklong blocks of advertising and let us all know what you come up with.

Why are you comparing your price for 1 week to his price for 1 month?

He only charges $250 per week. So yes, you charge less. But its still entirely shady how you presented and characterized everything.

Can you name several more podcasters who charge "upwards" of $1500 a month for sponsorship? And can you give me the names of anyone who actually recieves this? I can charge 10,000 for my bike but doesn't mean anyone is buying it. Nor does it make me reasonable if wendy the retard charges 20,000 for her tricycle.

Jack B.


PS- Plus, his 1500 gets you an interview! How cool is that?!?! :D

[kickasspodcast]

I'm more "calling you out" that belittling you or your show. Haven't listened, never met ya- so I can't really judge can I? I will play your promo on a show if it mentions the Cubs (which it would have to right?) but seriously... I'm really not trying to belittle your show. Maybe your attempts to legitimize what you think its reasonable. Which maybe it is, but 10 bucks a week to me is, well, 40 bucks a month. That is probably more than what you pay for hosting. If its not, you are getting robbed. :)

Jack b.

[kilgoretrout87]

jack-- i dont know why up until you're last post you've had such an agressive attitude about this whole thing. I know these guys and am a frequent listener to their show, and if you would actually look at their website instead of flaming them for the donation button (which a high per centage of podcasts have right at the top of their page... even escapepod who posted on this thread) than you would read that they are trying to raise money to attend a convention, upgrade equipment and have a viewing/listener appreciation party... not to line their pockets with gold after they pay for hosting. It's not like that is the only expense for a freaking podcast.

like a previous person said, if I own a store or a restuarant, it only takes 1-3 people coming and buying something for me to benefit from a $10 ad. It's not like these auctions are starting at $50.

[chicagosn]

I'm really not trying to belittle your show. Maybe your attempts to legitimize what you think its reasonable. Which maybe it is, but 10 bucks a week to me is, well, 40 bucks a month.

You can do math! Terrific!

The real issue here is that you've completely missed the boat on calculating how "reasonable" it is to charge $10 a week for exclusive sponsorship on a podcast. That is what the auction is for.

Maybe it is unreasonable to you, and that is fine, obviously you won't bid. That's exactly why we're having an auction...to test the market. If no one bids and we don't sell any ads, then it would appear to be unreasonable. The reason that I mentioned ads on the el and in the paper is that it is unreasonable to expect a small business to buy that kind of advertising. And if you ride the el or read the paper, 90% of the ad buyers are corporate.

Are you going to rail on us about the other 10% that can afford those ads?

I'm not going to post 20 more messages to this thread today, but you need to look at what you're saying.

It's not our fault you didn't know that Cubscast 1) existed or was 2) popular or 3) highly rated. You might want to check your facts in the future before "calling out" other podcasts.

[SFEley]

This is off-topic to Cubscast and their advertising, but I wanted to clarify:


You're entitled to your opinion. However, some of us spend money on our podcasts every week.
Dude... all of us spend money on our podcast. What do you mean by "some of us". Do you know anyone who doesn't spend money on their podcast?

I'm sorry, I was ambiguous. What I meant was that I pay money to writers every week for the right to perform their work. Yes, most of us spend money on equipment and hosting, but how many podcasts have a constant outgoing expense of $100 to $120 each month to acquire content?


If I didn't ask for donations, my podcast couldn't exist.
I don't know how this is possible. Did you start out asking for donations before you did your podcast? Or did you somehow encounter unanticipated expenses after you kicked out the 1st few shows on the cheap or something? How is it possible that the act of you not asking for donations would then force your podcast to stop existing? Maybe you mean that if people didn't donate, you wouldn't keep doing it? Maybe its not worth it to you to spend your own money on the podcast? This makes very little sense to me. I love podcasting. Its like any other hobby I have, its costs money.

My expenses were anticipated. Before I started podcasting, I set aside a portion of my personal budget to acquire stories for the first few months. I knew I couldn't afford to buy stories with my own cash forever. Luckily, we've made enough back in donations to cover our expenses and then some. In fact we've made enough that we're now reforming the podcast as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, so that people will know their donations are being properly handled.

Does that make more sense? I realize my show's a special case, but there's no reason it has to be unique. The point is, there are good reasons why somebody might need a revenue stream just to make the podcast viable.


Really? Who the hell is charging $1500 bucks a month for advertising? Its this kinda BS that makes it sketchy and dishonest. If anyone knows of "lower ranked podcasts" charging $1500 a month for advertising please let me know.

I don't know what "lower ranked" is supposed to mean, but I do know that Endurance Radio and Grape Radio price their advertising within that general range, and they have sponsors lined up to take it. Both have large audiences with strong interest in a specific niche. Skepticality was also preparing a media kit to seek sponsors at that level, before Derek had his accident. I know because I helped him with editing. Hopefully he'll recover soon and they'll be able to move forward with those plans.

[kickasspodcast]

Ok man... that's fine... I just think that the donation button being 1st on any website other than say RedCross.org or something is a little shameless. I also thought that saying 'several charge upwards of $1500" was a bit ballsy. I asked you to give me the several, and you gave me one. Its cool. No biggie. Not worried about it really. Best of luck. Let us know if anyone buys though ok? That way I can be wrong or you can be right, whatever.


Jack

[chicagosn]

Apology accepted.

[FOSCO]

Jack are you crazy?

10 Bucks a week is soo not a rip off. I mean I wanna charge like a million a week. :P

Fosco

[kickasspodcast]

@ Eley

Totally clears it up for me on your end. Thank you.

As far as others and their quest to cash in on their show, best of
luck to them. I just hope that their shows do not suffer or change
in anyway by taking revenues. Grape Radio? Meh.... give me The Good
Beer Show anyday ;)


Jack

[kickasspodcast]

Jack are you crazy?

10 Bucks a week is soo not a rip off. I mean I wanna charge like a million a week. :P

Fosco

Fosco, you know I am rather insane... you see how some HL2 games I own, others I am 2 and -14 like on that one map, with that one kid, I wanna strangle.

;)

Jack B.


If nothing else, we have drawn alot of attention to the Cubscast! Everyone Check it out at http://cubscast.com/

[kilgoretrout87]

Jack--

Thanks to escape pod and others, it looks like you have been proven 100% wrong. Congratulations. Escape Pod's examples of podcasts seeking similar rates makes a total of 4, if you count what he was going to ask for. I'm sure it wouldn't take long to come up with more examples.

In case you haven't received enough donations to be able to purchase a dictionary:

sev·er·al (svr-l, svrl)
adj.
Being of a number more than two or three but not many: several miles away.

[kickasspodcast]

I am pretty sure we were all on the same page before you came along.

I didn't find it worth mentioning that indeed Grape Radio and Skepticality are not "lower ranked podcasts". They are all well known and can command far more money for adspace. Right? I don't know anything about Endurance Radio. I'll check them out ok?

My issue was with the "several lower ranked podcasts" that charge ~$1500 statement.

:D


Jack
-Dark Prince of Dictionary Arguments-

[kickasspodcast]

Endurance Radio sounds kinda cool...

Turns out they are owned by TNC New Media. The good
people who are a big part of the Portable Media Expo.

Seems pretty reasonable considering their extensive
portfolio that that would be able to charge more for adspace.

They aren't really ranked at PCA, but how do you rate
a company producing tradeshows, conventions, conferences
& online media? Either way I think its safe to say, they probably
offer the larger exposure that Grape Radio & Skepticality can
promise. I think its fair. I don't think they could be considered
"lower ranked".

:)

Jack B.

[jeffoest]

When you get into the adverstising space, it's typically more important (read: willing to pay more!) to a prospective advertiser/sponsor to have a smaller but focused audience than a larger more general one. People who listen to Endurance Radio are young and active and invest in their outdoor activities. Perfect for sponsors that sell to those people. Who listens to Cubscan? I don't know but I reckon they are 99% Cubs fans. If you're a business selling to Cubs fans (for example a Wrigleyville bar with game specials or Cubs merchandise seller), you may very much value the cubscan podcast as a distribution for your message. In fact - it's much more valuable to them than a really BIG podcast such as DSC or D&D.

In advertising, niche is really where the value is to advertisers.

If I were doing this as a source of income, I would go niche all the way. Not even a question.

[chicagosn]

Thanks Jeff, we agree.

And that's Cubscast with a "st."

[jeffoest]

Whoops! Sorry!

[Hittman]

If you ever take a break from belittling Cubscast. . .

Jack belittles everything, and if you call him on it, he does it some more. I don’t know of anyone who takes anything he says seriously.

Haven't listened, never met ya- so I can't really judge can I?

But that hasn’t stopped you, or even slowed you down.

Capitalism 101: Something is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it – no more, no less. This media is still in it’s infancy, so we have no idea how much advertising is worth. And as it shakes out, we’re likely to find that the price per listener is different for every show that accepts advertising. Coverville (who has a very well produced PDF file explaining their rates) is talking to a very different audience than Skepticality, which has a very different audience than CubCast, which is going to have a different audience than a general interest show.

Anyone who as ever run a business will tell you that pricing is one of the most important and difficult things to do. That goes double for something that is new or unique, and podcast ads fit into that category.

Auctions are the freest of the free markets – the fairest and most honest way to assess the value of an item or a service, and an especially handy way to price something with limited availability (like ad space on a podcast).

Ten bucks for a show with 10k downloads sounds like a bargain to me. Especially for a market as targeted as this one.

[kickasspodcast]

Jack belittles everything, and if you call him on it, he does it some more. I don’t know of anyone who takes anything he says seriously.


Oh I am pretty sure you do. ;)

Haven't listened, never met ya- so I can't really judge can I?


But that hasn’t stopped you, or even slowed you down.


Like all those times you slammed Jack Clark from Blast the Right without ever bothering to listen to what he said? Spot on with the hypocrisy man.

Kudos!

I hope by the PM's to Cubscast that he knows I was just poking fun, I hope he got lotsa exposure, from the pageviews and how slow the forums were today, I am sure he did. :) I know Jack Clark did, Thanks guys! He does a really great show doesn't he? :D My fav has to be the "How right-Wingers Kill 18,900 American Infants Every Year" Episode! Off topic! Sorry!


Jack

[chicagosn]

My fav has to be the "How right-Wingers Kill 18,900 American Infants Every Year" Episode!

Just to clarify, that's not a reference to a Cubscast (with an "s") episode. It's Jack Clark's episode. If it were Cubscast, the episode would be titled "How St. Louis Cardinal Fans Kill 18,900 American Infants Every Year." Zing.