Podcast Length

jeffoest · Mar 13th, 2005, 05:52 PM

We just did our latest weekly podcast and found even after editing it turned out to be about 39 minutes. We have been trying to stay within 30 minutes for reasons that I pointed out as a listener in a blog article I wrote more than a month ago or so.

We kind of feel a bit bad that we went over our goal but I wanted to ask the community what your thoughts were on podcast length. I sort of figure after about 30 minutes or so (obviously depending on the person and what they are doing while listening) most folks will start to drop off.

But that's only MY listening experience with podcasts! What do other members think about the length of a podcast? Maybe this just isn't a big deal.

Cat · Mar 13th, 2005, 05:56 PM

I personally find 30min and longer to be quite long - I listen on my computer when I have time, so the longer it is the harder it is for me to keep listening.

However, some podcasts are really interesting and I don't always notice the time go by!

But if I had a choice between a 25 minute podcast to a 45 minute, I would pick the 25 min one. (of course depending on Content)

Hope that helps - its just my humble opinion.

cc_chapman · Mar 13th, 2005, 06:33 PM

It TOTALLY depends on the content to me.

I listen to most podcasts during my commute or in the gym. If it's solid content then I'll listen to the whole thing. But, I've also been known to fast forward or skip anything that gets boring since I have way to many podcasts to listen to.

30 minutes is a perfect length.

15 is even better because I can listen to more of them.

It all depends on my interest in the topic.

The basic rule is that there isn't any rule.

JakeGrim · Mar 13th, 2005, 07:23 PM

I like to keep mine about 15-20 mins. I'll go longer if I've attached music, or have the content to fill the time. Most nights, I clock in at 16 minutes. This includes the opening, the core, the review or second topic rant, and the contact info.

You know, for a show that's supposed to be random, I do have a lot of structure.

pdadave · Mar 13th, 2005, 10:26 PM

I keep mine right around 5 minutes. Then again, it is more of a week in review show, so it is a little different than many other podcasts.

Insomnia Radio · Mar 13th, 2005, 11:32 PM

Well, as you all know, I pretty much blow the 30 minute mark out of the water. My 20th show was a two part, 110 minute music fest...

However, I only podcast once a week with the typical length being 60 minutes.

If you are podcasting three times or more per week, 30 minutes is a bit lengthy. 20 seems to be the sweet spot for me....

Like CC said tho...it truly depends on the content.

My advice? Don't compromise your show. Don't edit out material to fit a timeline. It's your space, bandwidth, passion, and rules...

Podcast your heart out.

radioclash · Mar 14th, 2005, 09:55 AM

As we all know size is everything - and Radio Clash has pushed the hour mark on occasion, usually around 45-55 min mark. I thought it was WAY too long...and was dropping tracks or doing a lot of editing to try and get it down...

I opened this discussion up on my blog and surprisingly the consensus was that it's fine as it is. I think it depends on the show, if you've got loads of content (and ramble on like I do!) then it's OK, but I think you have to break things up somehow - a 45 minute rant can be abit long with nothing else...but that's what stand up comedians do and it's fine, so even then

ferg · Mar 14th, 2005, 10:42 AM

I started off hoping to target a 10 minute podcast. I figured it could be really packed full of content, and no one would get bored.

However, I found that I had to do a lot of editing to get it down to that length, and it ended up sounding kind of choppy.

Also, I started podcasting with my wife, and the back-and-forth extended the length a bit.

I listen in my car, so, if it's a good podcast, the longer the better, although about 40 minutes is perfect, as that's roughly the length of my commute.

I've decided not to bind myself to a timelimit. We outline the show before hand, targetting 30 minutes, but, if it goes over, oh well. Our latest show was about 55 minutes, but I thought the content was interesting enough to hold people's attention.

thefly · Mar 14th, 2005, 10:59 AM

I've got an hour commute, so I can usually fit in one or two good, long podcasts. I am excited about the iPodderx "convert to bookmarkable" feature. But I haven't started doing that yet.

Personally, when I record, it's when I'm driving and by myself. Unless I'm on a rant and have a lot to talk about, I'm usually spent after recording ten minutes. My listeners keep telling me they want them to be a little longer though. So I'm shooting for 15.

hobokenrockcity · Mar 14th, 2005, 12:20 PM

Similar to Insomnia Radio and Radio Clash, I'm doing a show around the one-hour mark. Since I only do one show a week, if it were any shorter it just wouldn't feel like enough. It also wouldn't feel like a true indie rock radio show, which is the style I'm going for.

Mike C.
www.hobokenrockcity.com

Mar 13th, 2005, 05:52 PM	#1
jeffoest Senior Member I Eat, Sleep and Drink PodcastAlley.com Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,081	We just did our latest weekly podcast and found even after editing it turned out to be about 39 minutes. We have been trying to stay within 30 minutes for reasons that I pointed out as a listener in a blog article I wrote more than a month ago or so. We kind of feel a bit bad that we went over our goal but I wanted to ask the community what your thoughts were on podcast length. I sort of figure after about 30 minutes or so (obviously depending on the person and what they are doing while listening) most folks will start to drop off. But that's only MY listening experience with podcasts! What do other members think about the length of a podcast? Maybe this just isn't a big deal. __________________ Jeff Oestreich This and That Podcast

Mar 13th, 2005, 05:56 PM	#2
Cat Member New to the Alley Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 45	I personally find 30min and longer to be quite long - I listen on my computer when I have time, so the longer it is the harder it is for me to keep listening. However, some podcasts are really interesting and I don't always notice the time go by! But if I had a choice between a 25 minute podcast to a 45 minute, I would pick the 25 min one. (of course depending on Content) Hope that helps - its just my humble opinion. __________________ Cat www.CatFishShow.com

Mar 13th, 2005, 06:33 PM	#3
cc_chapman Senior Member I Live Here Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 429	It TOTALLY depends on the content to me. I listen to most podcasts during my commute or in the gym. If it's solid content then I'll listen to the whole thing. But, I've also been known to fast forward or skip anything that gets boring since I have way to many podcasts to listen to. 30 minutes is a perfect length. 15 is even better because I can listen to more of them. It all depends on my interest in the topic. The basic rule is that there isn't any rule. __________________ C.C. Chapman Host & Producer, Accident Hash, Managing the Gray & The U-Turn Cafe

Mar 13th, 2005, 07:23 PM	#4
JakeGrim Junior Member New to the Alley Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD Posts: 28	I like to keep mine about 15-20 mins. I'll go longer if I've attached music, or have the content to fill the time. Most nights, I clock in at 16 minutes. This includes the opening, the core, the review or second topic rant, and the contact info. You know, for a show that's supposed to be random, I do have a lot of structure. __________________ Check out Random Noise. Wasting your bandwidth since last Thursday

Mar 13th, 2005, 10:26 PM	#5
pdadave Member Alley Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 61	I keep mine right around 5 minutes. Then again, it is more of a week in review show, so it is a little different than many other podcasts. __________________ Dave www.davespda.com Weekly Rewind PDA Podcast - @PA

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Mar 13th, 2005, 11:32 PM	#6
Insomnia Radio Senior Member I love the Alley Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Coast of California Posts: 165	Well, as you all know, I pretty much blow the 30 minute mark out of the water. My 20th show was a two part, 110 minute music fest... However, I only podcast once a week with the typical length being 60 minutes. If you are podcasting three times or more per week, 30 minutes is a bit lengthy. 20 seems to be the sweet spot for me.... Like CC said tho...it truly depends on the content. My advice? Don't compromise your show. Don't edit out material to fit a timeline. It's your space, bandwidth, passion, and rules... Podcast your heart out.

Mar 14th, 2005, 09:55 AM	#7
radioclash Senior Member I Live Here Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 302	As we all know size is everything - and Radio Clash has pushed the hour mark on occasion, usually around 45-55 min mark. I thought it was WAY too long...and was dropping tracks or doing a lot of editing to try and get it down... I opened this discussion up on my blog and surprisingly the consensus was that it's fine as it is. I think it depends on the show, if you've got loads of content (and ramble on like I do!) then it's OK, but I think you have to break things up somehow - a 45 minute rant can be abit long with nothing else...but that's what stand up comedians do and it's fine, so even then __________________ Listen to Radio Clash : mashups, mixes and more: http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=719 Radio Clash: http://www.mutantpop.net/radioclash/ Digital Debris - art, poetry, music and thought - http://www.digitaldebris.org.uk/

Mar 14th, 2005, 10:42 AM	#8
ferg Senior Member I Eat, Sleep and Drink PodcastAlley.com Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 515	I started off hoping to target a 10 minute podcast. I figured it could be really packed full of content, and no one would get bored. However, I found that I had to do a lot of editing to get it down to that length, and it ended up sounding kind of choppy. Also, I started podcasting with my wife, and the back-and-forth extended the length a bit. I listen in my car, so, if it's a good podcast, the longer the better, although about 40 minutes is perfect, as that's roughly the length of my commute. I've decided not to bind myself to a timelimit. We outline the show before hand, targetting 30 minutes, but, if it goes over, oh well. Our latest show was about 55 minutes, but I thought the content was interesting enough to hold people's attention. __________________ http://www.airferg.com

Mar 14th, 2005, 10:59 AM	#9
thefly Senior Member I love the Alley Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Baltimoreish, MD Posts: 118	I've got an hour commute, so I can usually fit in one or two good, long podcasts. I am excited about the iPodderx "convert to bookmarkable" feature. But I haven't started doing that yet. Personally, when I record, it's when I'm driving and by myself. Unless I'm on a rant and have a lot to talk about, I'm usually spent after recording ten minutes. My listeners keep telling me they want them to be a little longer though. So I'm shooting for 15. __________________ Joel Thinking and Driving 'Don't think and drive. Leave that up to me.' The Arsenal America Podcast

Mar 14th, 2005, 12:20 PM	#10
hobokenrockcity Junior Member New to the Alley Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 12	Similar to Insomnia Radio and Radio Clash, I'm doing a show around the one-hour mark. Since I only do one show a week, if it were any shorter it just wouldn't feel like enough. It also wouldn't feel like a true indie rock radio show, which is the style I'm going for. Mike C. www.hobokenrockcity.com

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