Fee-based podcasts

[bbloke]

I've read today that the Ricky Gervais Show, which is the world's most popular podcast, is going to charge for the next series.

The first twelve episodes have been free, but the popularity has presumably pushed them towards a fee-based model. The podcasts will still be available via the iTunes Music Store, which surprised me a little, as I thought all the podcasts listed there would be free.

For anyone who has not listened to the Ricky Gervais Show, I'd recommend giving it a go. I find the bizarre ramblings of the three hosts very funny, but I'm rather disappointed they're going to charge... I guess it was just a matter of time.

(Incidentally, I was not sure where to put this thread, as it is mainly about Ricky Gervais' show, but relates to the iPod, iTunes, and the iTunes Music Store, plus it raises issues about what Apple will do with the current iTMS model, particularly when dealing with podcasts in future. Apologies if this thread is in the wrong forum.)

 

[fryke]

Perfectly acceptable in AN&R&D, since it's not simply about Gervais, but also about iTunes Music Store and, quite possibly, other podcasts in the future.

They said they'd charge 7$/month. How many minutes of show does this usually give? Does it come out once a week? Is it a 3, 10, 30, 60 minute programme?

 

[Satcomer]

Well I predict that this will cause the listeners to shy away from this fee. The shows host/producers seem to have a brilliant idea that all listeners are made of money. Their numbers will dwindle before their eyes, especially if a podcast is the only thing they do (as in doing a net show). It is one thing to pay for satellite radio because you can get that in almost any place in your country. A podcast has to be done from a net connection a listener already pays for. For me to pay money, it better be a video podcast that comes out a regular basis with great radio like bumpers and at least one hour long, with an ability to have accounts like Audible.com.

 

[bbloke]

Perfectly acceptable in AN&R&D, since it's not simply about Gervais, but also about iTunes Music Store and, quite possibly, other podcasts in the future.

OK, thanks, fryke.

They said they'd charge 7$/month. How many minutes of show does this usually give? Does it come out once a week? Is it a 3, 10, 30, 60 minute programme?

The shows last approximately 30 minutes (often about 32 or 33 minutes in total) and come out once per week. So, 120 minutes per month, roughly.

In the UK, it will be £2.75 for the first series, which was twelve shows; that's about 360 minutes at 0.76p per minute. I won't do the calculation in terms of cost per minute in each currency.

The new series will be "at least" four shows, but that could mean the cost will be £3.75 for only four. So the cost would be 3.12p per minute.

Well I predict that this will cause the listeners to shy away from this fee. The shows host/producers seem to have a brilliant idea that all listeners are made of money. Their numbers will dwindle before their eyes, especially if a podcast is the only thing they do (as in doing a net show). It is one thing to pay for satellite radio because you can get that in almost any place in your country. A podcast has to be done from a net connection a listener already pays for. For me to pay money, it better be a video podcast that comes out a regular basis with great radio like bumpers and at least one hour long, with an ability to have accounts like Audible.com.

Hmm, I don't know. I'd partly like to think that the numbers would drop away, as I think they saw a money-making scheme, rather than worrying about costs of production (which are minimal). Ricky Gervais, however, is a very well known comedian here. He has been responsible for series such as The Office (which was imported to the USA, in the form of an American version; I have to admit I didn't find it anywhere near as funny as the original, but that may be a difference in styles or it could be due to Ricky Gervais' absence) and Extras, as well as doing stand-up. He probably has enough of a following, both because he is known and because his podcast has such a fan-base now, that the fee-based podcasts will do OK.

 

[adambyte]

Ricky Gervais, however, is a very well known comedian here. He has been responsible for series such as The Office (which was imported to the USA, in the form of an American version; I have to admit I didn't find it anywhere near as funny as the original, but that may be a difference in styles or it could be due to Ricky Gervais' absence) and Extras, as well as doing stand-up. He probably has enough of a following, both because he is known and because his podcast has such a fan-base now, that the fee-based podcasts will do OK.

Firstly, I find the American version of "The Office" extremely funny, and it has gotten good reviews from critics, too. So I think it's just a different style of comedy. I'd love to see the original, too, though, since I have enjoyed British comedies like Faulty Towers and Monty Python.

Although he may lose some audience, he'll probably make some money in the long run. If he's anywhere as funny as you make him out to be, his following will gladly pay. I think slipping in advertising here and there into "free" podcasts is preferable to most people, but I'm sure he'll do just fine with the pay ones.

 

[bbloke]

Firstly, I find the American version of "The Office" extremely funny, and it has gotten good reviews from critics, too. So I think it's just a different style of comedy. I'd love to see the original, too, though, since I have enjoyed British comedies like Faulty Towers and Monty Python.

Although he may lose some audience, he'll probably make some money in the long run. If he's anywhere as funny as you make him out to be, his following will gladly pay. I think slipping in advertising here and there into "free" podcasts is preferable to most people, but I'm sure he'll do just fine with the pay ones.

I wasn't meaning to slag off the American version, don't worry. It was just a very different style, it was obviously a remake of something that existed and so would always be compared to the original, and Ricky Gervais really made "The Office" what it is, so it was very weird seeing it without him!

For me, the American version was more "zany," while the original version was painfully embarrassing to watch, it really made you cringe. The original version was like a fairly realistic fly-on-the-wall documentary, with David Brent (Ricky Gervais) just making you wince all the time. Ricky Gervais was lauded for his observation skills when he made this series, and so many of the public could identify with the show... which is worrying!

As for making money out of podcasts, it was quite interesting timing. I was reading in MacUser (UK) about someone who was involved in podcasting, and he was saying he was looking to do fee-based podcasting. He complained about the iTMS model, and how it was not flexible enough for what he wanted, so he was concerned he would end up switching to Windows Media formats and going elsewhere. I didn't know if it was a message/threat aimed at Apple or if he was talking honestly. It then got me thinking: "I hope the Ricky Gervais podcasts don't go down that round, and that Karl (one of the hosts) was hopefully only joking about making money out of it..."

DOH!

 

[Shookster]

I personally think advertising would be a better way of making money, as it's already the most popular podcast and hence the most in demand by advertisers. If they charge for it, it probably won't be. The problem with advertising on podcasts though is that users download the whole episode and then play it, and so can easily skip the ads.