Comments on: Union for Podcasters http://technosailor.com/2007/09/09/union-for-podcasters/ Business and Technology with Common Sense Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:20:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-alpha-19888 By: Dave Burckhard http://technosailor.com/2007/09/09/union-for-podcasters/comment-page-1/#comment-42881 Dave Burckhard Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:10:56 +0000 http://technosailor.com/union-for-podcasters/#comment-42881 If the Association for Downloadable Media, ADM, is a "union" then any organization that exists to further its industry is a union. In reality, what drove the formation of the ADM and its primary function so far is to set some guidelines and measurements standards by which podcasters might adopt and, more importantly, be accepted by advertisers who have been reluctant to sponsor podcasts. Media buyers are driven by metrics - standard, verifiable numbers that they can show to sponsoring advertisers that what they are buying makes sense. No numbers, no ads. Traditional media have had those numbers for generations. Until ADM, podcasting had none. The ADM has released its first set of guidelines and plans to continue to broaden and hone them. By doing so, podcasting can be seen as a "legitimate" medium that advertisers can buy without undo risk of getting fired because they're buying an unknown, mysterious channel. Unfortunately, there has been a reactionary attitude by some who have expressed a concern that somehow the ADM is trying to control the podcasting "industry." As if any party or entity actually could. It's not the objective of the ADM to control podcasting but to offer a set of guidelines and standards that raise the level of awareness by the advertising world. With the growing popularity of video and its many formats and file types, Advertisers will certainly want to know how their own video clips will be rendered and presented. On TV it's a slam dunk. On-line and via RSS feeds -- who knows? If an advertiser has to re-create a clip for the dozens of formats on the Internet do you think advertisers will find podcasting sponsorship compelling? With ADM taking an initiative, podcasters don't have to wonder about technicalities. Sure, if a podcaster chooses to present in 12.375 X 8.5 aspect ratio in an obscure file format, go break a leg. And continue to wonder why advertisers aren't beating a path to his accounts receivable. Above all, it will be compelling content and a solid audience market that will attract advertisers. Too many podcasters and podcasting businesses have failed and proclaimed it was the medium that failed. On the contrary, podcasting as a technology is as viable and proven as ever before. With a solid podcast, a solid audience, and numbers that can be shown to media buyers, a podcast-for-revenue venture can be a good thing. Much of that will be helped along by guidance provided by the ADM. Dave Burckhard National Podcasting System If the Association for Downloadable Media, ADM, is a “union” then any organization that exists to further its industry is a union.

In reality, what drove the formation of the ADM and its primary function so far is to set some guidelines and measurements standards by which podcasters might adopt and, more importantly, be accepted by advertisers who have been reluctant to sponsor podcasts. Media buyers are driven by metrics – standard, verifiable numbers that they can show to sponsoring advertisers that what they are buying makes sense. No numbers, no ads. Traditional media have had those numbers for generations. Until ADM, podcasting had none. The ADM has released its first set of guidelines and plans to continue to broaden and hone them. By doing so, podcasting can be seen as a “legitimate” medium that advertisers can buy without undo risk of getting fired because they’re buying an unknown, mysterious channel.

Unfortunately, there has been a reactionary attitude by some who have expressed a concern that somehow the ADM is trying to control the podcasting “industry.” As if any party or entity actually could. It’s not the objective of the ADM to control podcasting but to offer a set of guidelines and standards that raise the level of awareness by the advertising world. With the growing popularity of video and its many formats and file types, Advertisers will certainly want to know how their own video clips will be rendered and presented. On TV it’s a slam dunk. On-line and via RSS feeds — who knows? If an advertiser has to re-create a clip for the dozens of formats on the Internet do you think advertisers will find podcasting sponsorship compelling?

With ADM taking an initiative, podcasters don’t have to wonder about technicalities. Sure, if a podcaster chooses to present in 12.375 X 8.5 aspect ratio in an obscure file format, go break a leg. And continue to wonder why advertisers aren’t beating a path to his accounts receivable.

Above all, it will be compelling content and a solid audience market that will attract advertisers. Too many podcasters and podcasting businesses have failed and proclaimed it was the medium that failed. On the contrary, podcasting as a technology is as viable and proven as ever before. With a solid podcast, a solid audience, and numbers that can be shown to media buyers, a podcast-for-revenue venture can be a good thing. Much of that will be helped along by guidance provided by the ADM.

Dave Burckhard
National Podcasting System

]]> By: John C. Havens http://technosailor.com/2007/09/09/union-for-podcasters/comment-page-1/#comment-42880 John C. Havens Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:56:45 +0000 http://technosailor.com/union-for-podcasters/#comment-42880 Hi Aaron, You have a lot of great thoughts here but "the crap continues" isn't really a helpful way to frame this conversation. It makes total sense you would be concerned about ADM being a union and I used that analogy with the Screen Actor's Guild since I used to be an actor but won't again as it obviously incites such rancour from yourself and others. And I really appreciate the specific concerns about imposing policy and all that. Your thoughts inspired a great conversation for Matt and I as we work to refine future talks, re: ADM. Hi Aaron,

You have a lot of great thoughts here but “the crap continues” isn’t really a helpful way to frame this conversation. It makes total sense you would be concerned about ADM being a union and I used that analogy with the Screen Actor’s Guild since I used to be an actor but won’t again as it obviously incites such rancour from yourself and others.

And I really appreciate the specific concerns about imposing policy and all that. Your thoughts inspired a great conversation for Matt and I as we work to refine future talks, re: ADM.

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