iTunes to run ads during podcasts

[Marilynfan]

It sounds like iTunes is going to display a small ad on the screen when you listen to podcasts on your computer.

Full article here http://www.adage.com/article.php?article_id=108772

[SFEley]

It sounds like iTunes is going to display a small ad on the screen when you listen to podcasts on your computer.

Full article here http://www.adage.com/article.php?article_id=108772This is a very vague article. From the way they jump back and forth between "iTunes" and ads embedded in independent podcasts (the major ones covered here are the ESPN podcasts), I believe they could be saying that some podcasts are going to start including ad images in their "enhanced podcast" pictures. The lower left corner is where those appear, after all.

If that's what they mean, it's pretty logical and has nothing to do with any action from Apple. It certainly doesn't mean that they're going to start showing ads during your podcast, independent of any action from you.

[Marilynfan]

My apologies the way it was presented over at ilounge http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/report-apple-set-to-display-ads-in-itunes/ made it sound like they were going to run ads themselves. I posted before reading through the whole thing.

[SFEley]

My apologies the way it was presented over at ilounge http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/report-apple-set-to-display-ads-in-itunes/ made it sound like they were going to run ads themselves. I posted before reading through the whole thing.
They could still be right. It's a very poorly written article. It makes it sound as if Apple and ESPN Radio are content partners, making all of the podcasting decisions together.

That's clearly not the case. ESPN supplies the content, and Apple distributes it to an audience, just like they do for all of us. The critical question here is, "Who's selling and showing the ads?" If it's ESPN, then there's nothing really new here. They're just a podcast with advertisers. If it's Apple, then it's a fundamental business model change that affects a lot of people. It's ridiculous that the story's author failed to make clear who's doing what.

[!vo]

Excellent :) :):) (http://64u.org/links/) :)

[WyethDigital]

Yep. This was posted earlier. (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10462)

It's an interesting read, but I think it's too soon to tell who it will affect. My guess is ABC, Disney, and ESPN content will be the targets of the ads, since they seem to be working with Apple on the strategy.

It would be nice, if it's successful, to offer the option across the board, and let true independent podcasts opt-in (or not). Maybe something like an affiliate program. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach to this.

Eric

[SFEley]

It would be nice, if it's successful, to offer the option across the board, and let true independent podcasts opt-in (or not). Maybe something like an affiliate program. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach to this.
Again: based on my reading of the article, I don't think Apple is doing anything. I think it's something ESPN is doing, sticking ads as pictures into their own podcasts, and the "journalist" simply reported it badly.

[Marilynfan]

Yep. This was posted earlier. (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10462)


Hmmm...pretty sure my post was earlier than the one you linked to.

[WyethDigital]

Yep. This was posted earlier. (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10462)


Hmmm...pretty sure my post was earlier than the one you linked to.
Could be. I didn't look at the time stamp. I will correct myself and say that I saw the post I linked to earlier than yours.

Eric

[WyethDigital]

Again: based on my reading of the article, I don't think Apple is doing anything. I think it's something ESPN is doing, sticking ads as pictures into their own podcasts, and the "journalist" simply reported it badly.
You're probably right. The article I read made it sound as if Apple was helping them to implement it, but not instigating it.

Eric