Apple Introduces 'Podcasts Connect' for Managing Podcast Uploads

Great that Apple wants to push Podcasts!

How about a fullscreen option for video podcasts on iPad? It was there for years until Apple removed it with iOS 9. Please bring back the fullscreen playback of video podcasts! How hard can it be?

It's just that TAL is a very high-budget program, carrying over a massive already-existing audience from public radio. That's just not representative of podcasting in general or any kind of costs associated, etc.

For example, if you don't care about having your own website or stats, you can start a podcast on Libsyn with it's feed and a webpage for $5 /mo (with the storage limitations, you'd have to do a shorter weekly show, or a longer monthly show, etc.... by shorter I mean like ~30 min) and can even use your computer's built-in mic if you don't care much about audio quality.

I'd guess that the average beginner or smaller podcaster probably spends $15/mo on media hosting, ~$10/mo on website hosting, and $50-100 on their mic, and maybe a bit more on various software/services, though most can be done for free with some work. That, of course, doesn't count the value of the massive amount of time invested.

More medium level podcasters might spend a bit more on their media hosting, but probably not much (I don't think higher pricing kicks in until you get to bigger commercial ventures with a LOT of downloads, it's typically more feature oriented in terms of pricing). They might spend $20-$50 on website hosting (better host to handle more traffic), and some money on services or plugins for that website ($100 - $1000+). They often buy better mics, but don't necessarily need to, along with a mixer or other audio gear ($300 - $1500). They probably buy some software for editing the audio, have audio bumpers made or buy stock-audio, etc. ($100 - $500). Stuff like that. Again, that doesn't include the massive time investment.

So, I'm absolutely behind you in saying that if you get value from a particular podcast, ABSOLUTELY support them! (including TAL). But, I'd never suggest that TAL is a good representation of the costs involved in podcasting. I think that's why we jumped on your post. :)

Fair enough. You sound pretty experienced in this - what is your mic of choice?

Well, it's a start. Being able to easily change feed URLs is nice. Wish you could remove deleted podcasts from your account altogether. TWiiPhone ('http://twiiphone.com/') appreciates this.

Note, that if you simply change URLs via that interface, you'll lose the subscribers if you don't take other measures to maintain them... it makes it possible, but use with caution.

Just a note to the writer - Podcasts our not uploaded to itunes. Apple does not offer any hosting for podcasts files. They just link through css to files hosted elsewhere.

RSS feed, but yes, they aren't hosted at Apple. Apple is just a directory like many others... I think it just has like high 90s percent of the 'podcast directory' market.

You can host a podcast on SquareSpace and a variety of other low-cost hosting services. You can even host your podcast files free on archive.org ('http://hubpages.com/business/How-to-Host-Podcast-Audio-on-Archiveorg') .

I'd certainly double-check on the SquareSpace thing. Most website hosting companies have disclaimers about hosting this kind of content directly from their hosting space. Podcasting, kind of like YouTube or Vimeo and videos, are more a special case of media distribution. You might get away with it until your audience grows or they catch you. Maybe SquareSpace allows this now... but just double-check. (And, even then, I'd recommend Blubrry or Libsyn, as they do it right, and you get good stats and such.)

One of the most successful podcasts, This American Life, had over $137,000 in bandwidth expenses in 2013. ... But real non-profit juggernauts in the podcasting word that put out some amazing content for free (NPR, Radiotopia, etc.) do have some substantial hosting costs and it is important to keep that in mind when enjoying their wonderful shows.

Heh, I'm not sure I'd call them the real podcasting folks. They are newcomers, and there are a a LOT!!! of other very valuable podcasters doing on a shoestring budget.

Places like Blubrry and Libsyn are like $15-20 per month for the typical podcast. That said, to really 'do it right' they also need a website, which is another $10 to $40 per month... and then there are plugins and technical expertise, etc. And, that's not even counting all the time and effort put into actually producing the podcast (info research, recording, editing, promoting, etc.).

So, what is that all worth? While the actual money outlay might not be a huge amount, they are also very valuable, and worth supporting, for sure!

I'm glad that Apple keeps thinking of Podcasts, even though they really messed up the Podcasts app for iOS to the point where I'd rather not try my luck again.
Whenever I see a story about Apple doing this or that for Podcasts I'm baffled they still chug it along.

I know Podcasts haven't dived in popularity, it's just that I got very used to Apple getting out the axe.

Glassed Silver:mac

Just a note to the writer - Podcasts our not uploaded to itunes. Apple does not offer any hosting for podcasts files. They just link through css to files hosted elsewhere.

Yes! This is why everyone should donate to their favorite non-ad-supported podcasts when the podcast asks. In addition to the cost of staff and production, hosting costs can be quite high for a popular podcast.

Just a note to the writer - Podcasts our not uploaded to itunes. Apple does not offer any hosting for podcasts files. They just link through css to files hosted elsewhere.