What does Apple like in a podcast?

[mark-thisorthat]

I am a producer of a video podcast that represents a completely independent (no money) television show and the work of over 30 volunteers. But, it seems that we are not the kind of video podcast that Apple likes. And so we are trying to figure out what Apple does like.

Our podcast:
“This or That!” America’s Favorite Burlesque Game Show
Video blog: http://thisorthat-video.blogspot.com
Video blog feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThisOrThat-video
ITunes Podcast listing: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=74172010

We were thrilled to hear that Apple would add poddcasts to iTunes and were one of the first podcasts listed back last June. We have been posting in the mp4 file format (video ipod compatible) since June as well.

We were also listed by mefeedia, an independent video blog directory, aggregator, and web based player last spring. Mefeedia lists over 4300 video blogs that you can subscribe to.
http://www.mefeedia.com/feeds/
And we are listed on at least 20 other podcast directories that list video podcasts, I use mefeedia as an example because they cater exclusively to video podcasts.

We have never been a featured anything in the iMusic Store and are baffled by how Apple chooses what they like. Near the top of their Top podcast list are French Maid TV, and Tiki Bar TV. Well, folks say you need a little titillation to keep the Apple programers happy. But not so, we are a burlesque show with plenty of salacious activities, visual excitement, and an explicit warning, but this does not get us onto any of Apple’s prefered lists.

Well you need to be popular Apple says (in their official FAQ listing of what it takes to be a featured podcast). Well we are popular, just not with Apple. On mefeedia, we are the 4th most popular video podcast out of over 4300. But on Apples site we are below the noise floor. (Its worth noting that the top 3 on mefeedia are not in Apples Top 100 either).

We have only 5 star reviews on Apple’s site and no bad reviews (so far) on mefeedia or Apple.

As for Apples other technical requirements, we meet them all.

Including the fact that our video podcast is “taking off”. It is being seen around the world, with a larger audience than we would ever have achieved on public access TV or even as a regular web page.

We realize that Apple has no reason to be fair about this, they are a corporation attempting to make money after all. If fairness (or the promotion of home produced podcasts) was the point, Apple would simply rotate the “featured podcasts”, say every week or so, so that all decently produced podcasts would get a chance to be seen and heard.

Apple does not seem to be in business to support or promote “home grown” independent efforts like our own (and most of the podcast community). They seem to have decided that the only way to make money is to promote commercial products, like all those FOX podcasts, and now the NBC and ABC television libraries.

The Apple FAQ states, “In most cases, we avoid promotion of podcasts that are themselves merely promotions for other media products, such as films or albums.” But that statement is at odds with what they do feature. If they are going to make this kind of statement they need a new category: “Featured non-profit podcasts”. There are many of us who have produced ‘other media products, such as films and albums’ and TV shows that have had little success in other forms, but when they are translated into podcasts, folks start listening and watching.

It seems this statement, “we avoid promotion of podcasts that are themselves merely promotions for other media products, such as films or albums”, really means, “we avoid any content that might compete with our revenue generating content”.

I realize that this may sound like sour grapes on my part, but we are genuinely frustrated here.
I would love to hear other independant podcast producers tell me I am wrong.

Have a look at our podcast if you like.
Let me know if you have had a similar or different experience. I would love to be convinced that I have come to the wrong conclusion.

Mark Cyr
“This or That”
America’s Favorite Burlesque Game Show

[womengrow]

Take a look at this discussion:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=324106&tstart=15

My guess is that it is totally arbitrary - basically something the guys at iTMS feel like putting on the front page. My hunch is that an snappy looking graphic won't hurt you either, so it looks great when the iTunes homepage pulls up.

If nothing else works, try sending them your once a day super-friendly request by email. If you are presistent enough, it may pay off.

Good luck!

[mark-thisorthat]

I have already met all of Apple's requirements including the graphics. Part of my point is that there is no way to contact Apple other than to post in forums like this one and hope they pay attention to the community, cause they certainly don't provide any point of contact, like an email address.

[SFEley]

My guess is that it is totally arbitrary - basically something the guys at iTMS feel like putting on the front page.
I know for a fact that that is the case. There are people there tasked simply with finding good podcasts to feature.

(How do I know? Er, because I received an e-mail from such a person. I'm featured this week. I didn't ask for it -- it just happened because somebody liked my podcast. I almost feel guilty even admitting to it.)

Oh, and this is just speculation on my part, but I suspect the reason they don't provide a public e-mail address or "request for feature" page is because they would be positively swarmed with requests from thousands of podcasters, most of them probably repeating their requests weekly or daily. Would you want to be the person at the other end of that e-mail address? Me neither. And if you have to pick from a pool of ten thousand submitted to you, that's really not that much different from not taking submissions and just deciding.

Keep doing what you're doing, make a great show with broad appeal, and it might happen with patience. If so, congratulations. And if it doesn't -- there are other ways to build an audience. And if you build a good audience yourself, Apple might just notice and feature you.

[Metaphore]

Yeah, Grats on that feature. Even saw ya in one of the "Big" buttons up at the top.

[kinkysex]

The Apple FAQ states, “In most cases, we avoid promotion of podcasts that are themselves merely promotions for other media products, such as films or albums.”

Anyone have a link to this FAQ? I'd like to make sure my house is in order. Just in case. :lol:

[ExtraLife]

I wonder about this as well. I started a new show for WoW fans and the next day it hit page one of iTunes and exploded in downloads as a result. I have NO idea how we got there, or how apple decides to do it. Hot topic maybe? Who knows. But it rocks if you can somehow swing it.

[womengrow]

Anyone have a link to this FAQ? I'd like to make sure my house is in order. Just in case. :lol:
Here it is: http://discussions.apple.com/ann.jspa?annID=41

[podcastrant.com]

Apple really likes it if you have "Nobody" or "Likes" or "Onions" in the title. Just ask Patrick and Adam.