Missy Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 What about someone with me who just by sheer nature of how much I download could end up paying money for something that turns out sucking? The great thing about free podcasting is that it allows someone with the ability to have a good show to build up a fan base. If you start charging, people IMMEDIATELY become more cautious and less likely to check out new things. Even if it's only 25 cents people are going to be less likely to part with that money for the risk of something turning out to be crap. That happens to me 2 out of 3 new podcasts I try. If I had to dish out money for each one, I would probably just stick with what I knew was good and never add shows. The benefit of the medium being free is that if I download something and it's not for me, no harm done. When the time comes, I see sites offering free preview episodes. 'Cause you're right, no one wants to pay for crap. Being able to preview an entire episode first is the only way to go. What spawned this question? I know it's not cause you have plans for doing it but I'm curious. I've seen it asked elsewhere, and I wanted to read your guys' thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFetch Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 When the time comes, I see sites offering free preview episodes. 'Cause you're right, no one wants to pay for crap. Being able to preview an entire episode first is the only way to go. I don't see that time ever coming. It's been established as a free medium for too long. Ricky Gervace charged for his podcast and look what happened. No matter how good it is, people aren't willing to pay for it. The only podcasts I can see people paying for are video podcasts, and they would have to offer something special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 People will pay for things they can otherwise get for free. Look at bottled water. Satellite radio. Wrestling websites. Sex. Porno. Hell, the perfect example is television. There are plenty of high-quality programs on free TV, yet people still subscribe to cable. The same will happen with podcasts; some podcasters will continue to give their shows away for free, whilst others will charge for theirs. And people will pay for those shows because they were already loyal listeners, they have expendable income, they want to be part of something different, the show is of a higher quality and / or something else. Will a lot of shows crumble once this happens? Yes, for two reasons: 01. People such as yourself won't pay. 02. Lots of would-be podcasters won't bother if a profit can't be made (RE: reason number one). But that won't mean the end of the medium or a lack of subscription-only shows. As soon as someone discovers a viable means to charge listeners (and it really hinges on that), you'll see a shift in that direction. At that point the market will decide what shows are here to stay, just like it does with any product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFetch Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 As soon as someone discovers a viable means to charge listeners (and it really hinges on that), you'll see a shift in that direction. I don't think it's a matter of finding ways to charge listeners. It's a matter of how to make money. Those are two different things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted August 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 Sponsorship is already there, so money is being made in that regard. A lot? No. But some. Hopefully as audiences increase, so will sponsorship. But one of these things is going to happen first: either increased sponsorship or subscription fees. Hopefully it's sponsorship because that won't cause a reduction in listenership, but very soon someone is going to develop some sort of subscription system (and there are people working on this right now) and podcasters are going to look towards it as a means to make money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 1, 2007 Report Share Posted August 1, 2007 I'll pay for the show, but then be expected to get paid everytime I'm on it, thus, breaking even. Who the hell am I kidding? As often as I'm on the show, I'd probably end up owing Mike a new house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 I pay for my Figure 4 subscription but thats a whole package including board access and a physical newsletter. I don't think I'd pay any other site for Podcasts when I get so much from that one site already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darque Edge Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Here's a good analogy for you, and a suggestion: Would I pay for a radio show? No, I wouldn't. At least, I'd be very unlikely to, unless i was seriously into a habit of listening to it. However, if I liked the radio show, and I could pay to download previous episodes, I'd do that. So there's the idea - charge for your archive, not your current stuff. Add in some adverts, and stick on a minimal charge for old episodes, to cover you keeping them on your server. That way, you reward loyal listeners, and make money from new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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