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Podcasting part two: What was considered old is new again

This is the second in a series of articles about podcasting by BPR’s Wayne Clouten

It is interesting to reflect on many in the radio industry being so excited about some of the “new” “cutting edge” podcast content available like comedy shows, crime serials, soap operas and documentaries.  It sounds exactly like the sort of content you would hear on radio stations of the 1930-1970’s, particularly in the US, Australia and the UK.  Most radio stations in those days had many feature programs like this across the day, typically during the morning and early evenings.  They were very important to the format of stations driving listening appointments but also critical to revenue.  Sponsorship of these programs were considered premium advertising opportunities and were priced accordingly.

The amount of drama, comedy and mixed entertainment shows produced for radio during this period is breathtaking.  Over 1,250 such shows were produced in Australia, even more in the US.   Shows like The Adventures of Superman, Tarzan, The Abbott & Costello Show, Bulldog Drummond, Crime Does Not Pay, The Bob Dyer Show, The lux Radio Theatre, The Air Adventures of Biggles, Diamonds of Death and Dr Paul.  At one point in the US there were over 600 radio dramas being broadcast each week.

To get this in perspective, Podcasting is nothing more than a new age label for what radio was delivering to listeners 50 years ago. Podcasting is a 21^st Century reimagining of what radio used to do.

So, what do we do about it? We can’t turn back the clock.  Things have changed dramatically at many levels.  The four principle gamechangers for privately owned (commercial) radio operators are:

• There is now cheap and readily available technology for people everywhere and at any time to create audio content and distribute it as a podcast via a variety of platforms. People and organisations are now longer restricted by access to expensive recording technology or limited broadcast spectrum in-order to create and distribute content.
• Consumers expect on-demand ability providing access to what they want, when they want.
• Most radio stations and radio groups are not geared to produce and monetise new podcast content – particularly drama. Only the very largest public stations have the funding or resources to seriously exploit podcasting and invest in the creation of content.
• There are no longer the specialist radio show production companies that fuelled the radio content of the 1930-1970’s

What the past teaches us, more than anything; is that it can be done. What the current excitement about podcasting signals to us is an opportunity for radio to take a seat at the table and maybe, if we are prepared to think outside the box, lead the podcasting agenda rather than being dragged along behind it.

PODCASTING part one

Tags: Podcasting