Podshow gets tough on Blubrry.com Listed Podcasters!

[geeknews]

We received two request from podcasters that are contracted (aka “Owned”) by Podshow to have their listing removed from Blubrry.com. Podshow informed them that can no longer be listed on our site because we are now a competitor of their product offereing. This is a pretty amazing admission by Podshow podcasters.

We at Blubrry pride ourselves on not locking people into contracts or interfereing in a podcaster’s right to list his/her show any where he/she may see fit. Podshow’s recent adoption of placement limitations on their podcasters is clearly an attempt to control their podcaster’s exposure and earnings capability.

This response, however, is not surprising given the Podshow’s prior stance on advertising with outside networks. Past promotional opportunities made to Podshow podcasters listed on blubrry have been met with silence. This confused us, until we were told by several other vendors that podshow podcasters are not allowed to respond. They are instructed to forward any outside ad deals straight to the Podshow sales department. This all very sad. It seems that even when a podcaster is capable of earning revenue on their program, Podshow is limiting their ability to do so.

Now Podshow has gone one step further by not only limiting the revenue potential of a podcast, but also its ability to gain exposure. We hope that given such apparently severe restrictions these podcasters are actually making some money with Podshow and not just getting screwed out of the rights to manage their show.

[Craig]

Hmm...kind of adds a new meaning to "Step Up and Take It!":

http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13462

Seriously, out of curiosity are there any Podshow podcasters reading this who are happy with their revenue stream? Anyone who wants to come on "Behind the Scenes" and talk about their success generating a revenue stream through Podshow or anywhere else for that matter? Email me if so at craig[@]godcast.org

Craig

[Barefoot Radio.com]

Short of a good contract, independence is golden.

Independence is GOLDEN!!!!

[rishey]

Craig- I have been very happy with my revenue stream for the past 14 months.

Richard Bluestein

[AaronfromQC]

Come on Todd, I'm not a fan of Podshow but this post is just rediculous. If Podshow is planning on making revenue off of a show and you are doing the same thing, you can't bash Podshow for saying "hey we don't want another ad on your show". I quote Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, "Break the deal, face the wheel". If you had someone signed up with Blubrry and you were making money off that show, then that podcaster decides to run 4 more ads on his show thus minimizing your advertiser, you nor the advertiser would be very happy about this. Especially the advertiser since they often pay to be the sole sponsor of the show.

[adamc1999]

We received two request from podcasters that are contracted (aka “Owned”) by Podshow to have their listing removed from Blubrry.com. Podshow informed them that can no longer be listed on our site because we are now a competitor of their product offereing. This is a pretty amazing admission by Podshow podcasters.

We at Blubrry pride ourselves on not locking people into contracts or interfereing in a podcaster’s right to list his/her show any where he/she may see fit. Podshow’s recent adoption of placement limitations on their podcasters is clearly an attempt to control their podcaster’s exposure and earnings capability.

This response, however, is not surprising given the Podshow’s prior stance on advertising with outside networks. Past promotional opportunities made to Podshow podcasters listed on blubrry have been met with silence. This confused us, until we were told by several other vendors that podshow podcasters are not allowed to respond. They are instructed to forward any outside ad deals straight to the Podshow sales department. This all very sad. It seems that even when a podcaster is capable of earning revenue on their program, Podshow is limiting their ability to do so.

Now Podshow has gone one step further by not only limiting the revenue potential of a podcast, but also its ability to gain exposure. We hope that given such apparently severe restrictions these podcasters are actually making some money with Podshow and not just getting screwed out of the rights to manage their show.

Todd, you are poorly informed.

You wrongfully say that we are 'limiting' podcasters ability to create 'exposure'.

There are (were) 5 PodShow affiliated (not 'owned' as you falsely state) with PodShow that appear(ed) on Blubrry:

- Musicians Cooler

- Rock and Roll Geek Show

- Jersey Todd Show

- Amateur Traveler

- Old Time Radio Detectives

We encourage our partner producers and podcasters to do as much as they can to promote their work and build their audience outside of what PodShow already does for them.

Joe Carpenter from PodShow's Talent Relations Department mentioned in conversations with Michael Butler and Chris Christensen (Amateur Traveler) yesterday that the TOS for Blubrry were extremely limiting to the producer and that they may want to reconsider their affiliation with Blubrry.


Your (Blubrry/Raw Voice) policy regarding RSS feeds reads as follows:

"You will not modify or edit the RSS Feeds from the Site. This includes modifying the RSS Feeds to include the incorporation of any advertising, splash screens, spyware, viruses, or any other content. The Company owns all rights to the RSS Feeds and those rights may include patents, trademarks and copyrights. The Company reserves the right to stop offering its RSS Feeds to anyone at anytime."

You say that you pride yourself on not 'locking people in', but these producers automatically do not own the RSS feeds Blubrry is surfacing and that can present many problems. I consider that lock-in. We simply made our partners aware of the TOS and they made their own independent decisions.

We never received any notice from any podcaster/producer regarding sponsorship opportunities offered to them from Blubrry. Perhaps it wasn't worth the effort.

AC

[inoveryourhead]

Seriously, out of curiosity are there any Podshow podcasters reading this who are happy with their revenue stream? Anyone who wants to come on "Behind the Scenes" and talk about their success generating a revenue stream through Podshow or anywhere else for that matter? Email me if so at craig[@]godcast.org

I don't see the relevance of it needing to be via email, but yeah, I'm doing just fine with them. Thanks for asking.

[Craig]

I don't see the relevance of it needing to be via email
I didn't want to hijack the thread.

Also, I'm looking to do unbiased interviews, if that's possible (I doubt anyone's going to come on and trash Podshow). Despite my previous joke, my intention is simply to present an objective look at the Podshow experience. I'm curious and I know other podcasters are too. (And I realize some have already made up their minds one way or another.)

If anyone from Podshow is willing to be interviewed at the Expo, let me know...I'll have my recording gear with me. Email me to set something up or look for me at the show at the Orange County Podcasters booth (619).

Craig

[AmericanCliche]

I have been with Podshow since May and I am thrilled with my revenue stream. And for the record, no one at Podshow has ever told me who I can and can't be affiliated with. They encourage me to promote my show wherever I can. I tried doing the independent thing for a year with my show and despite a sizeable audience I had one ad deal in a year. I joined Podshow and had several sponsorships in my first month and that has continued.

I am one satisfied affiliate of Podshow.

-Scott

[rockandrollgeek]

I have been extremely happy with the revenue I have recieved from doing what I LOVE. Not to mention, it has greatly improved my standing with the chicks.

http://rockandrollgeek.podshow.com

[chris2x]

I was one of the podcasts mentioned in this discussion. I would be glad to talk to you about Podshow but I am very new with Podshow so don't rally have any answers to you revenue question yet. But the main reason I went with Podshow is that I saw them as the only network who could make a big impact on promoting the show. I am doing podcasting as a hobby, and don't want to quit my day job so what I was really looking for in signing the contract is would I have more fun podcasting with Podshow. I have not been disappointed with that yet. In the two weeks I have been with them they have:

1) promoted my show on Podcastalley.com as a featured show
2) promoted the show on Daily Source Code
3) they are going to pay to create me a new theme song
4) they are going to put the show on Sirus satellite next week
5) had me record a promo to play on their other shows

So I would have to say I have gotten what I wanted from this relationship so far

I am disappointed not to be a part of blubrry because I like what Todd has been doing, but this was a choice for me. To be honest I really had not seen any traffic from blubrry.com yet as it is very new. And to be fair, I wasI think there is room for more than one network in the podcasting space and I wish Todd and his network well.

[etomorrow]

just wanted to post without actually reading.

[geeknews]

[quote=geeknews]
Your (Blubrry/Raw Voice) policy regarding RSS feeds reads as follows:

"You will not modify or edit the RSS Feeds from the Site. This includes modifying the RSS Feeds to include the incorporation of any advertising, splash screens, spyware, viruses, or any other content. The Company owns all rights to the RSS Feeds and those rights may include patents, trademarks and copyrights. The Company reserves the right to stop offering its RSS Feeds to anyone at anytime."

You say that you pride yourself on not 'locking people in', but these producers automatically do not own the RSS feeds Blubrry is surfacing and that can present many problems. I consider that lock-in. We simply made our partners aware of the TOS and they made their own independent decisions.

We never received any notice from any podcaster/producer regarding sponsorship opportunities offered to them from Blubrry. Perhaps it wasn't worth the effort.

AC


You are very mistaken: From line 3 Blubrryâ„¢ User Agreement

3. Our Pledge, Commitment and Notices

a. Your RSS Feeds: Participating Podcasters will retain their RSS feeds. You do not have to change anything! This includes where you host your files, your RSS feeds, and any other specific directory listing. With our most popular plans (outlined later) Blubrry will import your existing podcast RSS feeds and migrate that data into your branded show profile on the Blubrry network. This process will not change anything within your RSS feeds. Listeners will be able to subscribe to your RSS feed or utilize the MyCastâ„¢ service on the Blubrry website.

You can see the full terms of service here:

http://faq.blubrry.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=1&id=18&artlang=en


Our user agreement not our podcaster term of service does say what you quote above and the language and it was meant for the feeds we create. I have taken steps to make sure that is clairfied.

[adamc1999]

[quote="adamc1999"][quote=geeknews]
You can see the full terms of service here:

http://faq.blubrry.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=1&id=18&artlang=en


Our user agreement not our podcaster term of service does say what you quote above and the language and it was meant for the feeds we create. I have taken steps to make sure that is clairfied.

This page clearly is the TOS:

--------------------------------------------------
General
ID #1017
Complete Terms of Service for Podcasters

Copied from Blubrry.com Add Podcast Section
Blubrryâ„¢ User Agreement
--------------------------------------------------

So what is it? TOS or User Agreement? What's the difference? But more importantly, what are you trying to achieve with your misinformed inflammatory posting? I'll say it again Todd, spreading negativity about your competition reflects badly on you.

AC

[geeknews]

We never received any notice from any podcaster/producer regarding sponsorship opportunities offered to them from Blubrry. Perhaps it wasn't worth the effort.



Nice cheap shot, as one of the very first people to put ad deals together for networks I can assure you that the revenue podcasters are making are worth it. We are not greedy and want to make sure that the podcasters get paid. I have signed a significant number of deals in the $35.00 to $45.00 CPM rate and have podcasters replacing there income today on there ad deals. We have also signed smaller deals for companies just getting in the space in the $20.00 to $30.00 range and have slowly gained their confidence to move them into the higher CPM category.

We dont have 30 employees to feed so our overhead is lower and we can give 70% of those ad deals back to the podcasters.

[geeknews]

I'll say it again Todd, spreading negativity about your competition reflects badly on you.

AC

I'll say that you telling your podcasters where they can and cannot be listed reflects pretty badly on Podshow.

[adamc1999]

We dont have 30 employees to feed so our overhead is lower and we can give 70% of those ad deals back to the podcasters.

Dude, we get it allready. Todd is great, Todd is honest, Todd feeds podcasters etc etc. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be doing something more productive than lashing out at PodShow? With no staff, I'd think you wouldn't have the time. I certainly don't.

/unsub

AC

[PBD]

just wanted to post without actually reading.


I agree with everything he said.

[WyethDigital]

I am disappointed not to be a part of blubrry because I like what Todd has been doing, but this was a choice for me.
No affiliation with anybody, so no axe to grind. I am curious about this statement, because it doesn't really clarify the issue. You like what they're doing for you and are satisfied, which is great, and I applaud that. We should all be so lucky! But you don't exactly refute the claim made by Geeknews that you were told to quit Bluberry -- or am I missing something?

If you'd rather not get into it anymore, I can understand. We all have our relationships to tend to, so why muddy the waters of them if we don't have to!

Eric

[thescenezine]

I have been podcasting under the Podshow banner since July 2005, and it was the absolute best move for me and my shows. The resources that Podshow provides are great, and the people behind the scenes at Podshow have been very easy to work with. Not once have I felt "owned".

Marcus Couch
The Scene Zine (http://scenezine.podshow.com)
Podshow Music Rewind (http://rewind.podshow.com)

[docsnavely]

I'll say it again Todd, spreading negativity about your competition reflects badly on you.

AC

Adam, I distinctly remember you bashing podtrac in their debut. It was something that you said (can't remember word for word) about them not lasting, not having a quality business model, and pretty much being a joke. You've smeared the slander before. Don't act like you're above it.

Something about houses of glass and rocks... or something like that.

If I were associated with you or your company, I would be ashamed at the way you are handling this in public. It doesn't show well IMO.

But what the hell do I know?

<counting down to post deletion>

[musicianscooler]

As Mr "School of Podcasting (http://www.schoolofpodcasting.com)" I try to tip my toe in all things "Podcasting." I have "Sloppy Seconds - Music News Podcast" on Podcaster News (Todd's Network which also appears on blurbrry) and the Musicians Cooler on Podshow.

I should've paid attention to my "spidey senses" when I signed up at blurbrry (with the cooler). After all what are the chances of having ads running from both networks? I was looking for exposure (I'm a relentless marketer). The problem I DID get an offer from blurbrry and I turned it down (as its a Podshow podcast). This was unfair to Todd as the man is pounding the pavement looking for sponsorship. Meanwhile I was wasting his time. The other thing to think about is if I had accepted the advertisement (which would've broken all sorts of rules) my show would've been 10% ads. EEK. My apologies for all parties for being such an exposure whore.

As a Musician, I wouldn't wear a t-shirt for the club "B" on the stage of "Club A." It's a common courtesy, and I wouldn't feel "handcuffed" if I was asked to remove my shirt. As they say, "It's just business..."

I do not feel "controlled" by either network. They both are making moves to take podcasting to the next level. I enjoy cashing checks from both networks. I do feel that Podshow is unfairly categorized as "Evil" and "Controlling" on what seems to be a routine basis. I've never seen it, never felt it, and happy to be in the show.

For more info check out show #13 at the SOP "Podshow is not the Devil" (http://schoolofpodcasting.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=41890) and
"Saving 60 bucks a Year with Podcasternews.com (http://schoolofpodcasting.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=88207) show #34 at the School of Podcasting (again endless marketing...)