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‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

nytimes.com

41–50 of 88 posts

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#41
Here in Sweden, the last episode of Filip & Fredriks Podcast[1] was recorded in front of a 16 592 people audience this past June.

To be fair they had quite the career on television before that, but podcasting seems to have become a thing here.

[1] http://www.filipandfredrik.com

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#42

A friend and I are exploring some ideas and around next-generation podcasting (and audio entertainment in general). Early prototype stage. There is a lot of room for innovation, and the market is growing--as this article explains. If you're in the SF area and interested in this area, drop me a line.

Unfortunately nowhere near SF (Middle of England, UK!) but am definitely interested in what you're coming up with if you have any further info anywhere?

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#43
I've heard that when TV started spreading people thought it would never overtake radio. "Who has time to just sit and watch something?" You can listen to audio while you do other things.

Podcasting is probably my main "media" for the last 5 or so years. I listen to 15-20 hours per week as I commute, exercise, wash dishes…

Right now. As a marginal, unprofitable, poorly understood medium podcasts are amazingly "free." At least some of that stems from podcasting being broken.

Anyway, if anyone is looking for some fertile space to innovate, podcasting is it. Discovery is completely and utterly broken. Even just getting a podcast that you know the name of can be borderline impossible for less savvy users. Podcasting apps kind of suck too. Podcasts struggle to get interaction, which is important for discovery.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#44
post #43

I've heard that when TV started spreading people thought it would never overtake radio. "Who has time to just sit and watch something?" You can listen to audio while you do other things. Podcasting is probably my main "media" for the last 5 or so years. I listen to 15-20 hours per week as I commute, exercise, wash dishes… Right now. As a marginal, unprofitable, poorly understood medium podcasts are amazingly "free."…

Any recommendations?

I'm loving Serial, I listened to nearly all of it today. Occasionally I listen to Startups For the Rest of Us (http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/) but it's hit and miss if the content is relevant for me. Hardcore History is excellent.

It'd be nice to discover some more.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#45
post #43

I've heard that when TV started spreading people thought it would never overtake radio. "Who has time to just sit and watch something?" You can listen to audio while you do other things. Podcasting is probably my main "media" for the last 5 or so years. I listen to 15-20 hours per week as I commute, exercise, wash dishes… Right now. As a marginal, unprofitable, poorly understood medium podcasts are amazingly "free."…

>You can listen to audio while you do other things

My biggest problem with podcasts is that I can only listen to audio while I do other things. Running, cleaning the kitchen, driving. If I don't have something to occupy my hands and eyes, then unconsciously I find something, and tune out the podcast.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#46

This seems to be one of a spate of recent articles, e.g. [1]. For a skeptical take, see Marco Arment [2]. Then again, he could just be expressing sour grapes because people with actual skill, money, and time are invading his turf. FWIW, I have listened to a lot of NPR via podcast for many years, and see a podcast-only version of it as a natural step. At this point, the amateur "three nerds and a microphone" stuff is…

Current radio has both talk shows (AM talk radio) and produced content (NPR). Both very popular. No reason they can't both exist in the podcast area. And a popular radio talk show isn't really much more professional than "three nerds and a microphone." At least the podcast has an editing pass.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#47
post #7

A quick plug: for those who enjoy Serial, there's an incredible amount of high-quality discussion about it on the serialpodcast subreddit [1]. The very high level of engagement the show has with some listeners is surprising. I don't think it's typical, but many posters talk about dedicating hours to reading case documents, re-listening to episodes, doing independent research, etc. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/serialp…

As a counter argument I'd say don't waste your time. It is this close -> || to becoming a boston bomber situation with people making wild accusations and speculating to their hearts content about all manner of peoples private lives and those are the posts that get voted up.

It's hard to disagree when stuff like this, comparing the death of a high schooler to the a conspiracy to assassinate JFK, is on the on the front page.

http://www.reddit.com/r/serialpodcast/comments/2n7m7n/watchi...

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#48
post #32

We've had "podcasting" for well over a decade, the iPod is dead, and this is the first "breakout hit"?

I think mainly because the top of the podcast charts is all existing public radio shows, so they don't "count" as podcasts.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#49

This seems to be one of a spate of recent articles, e.g. [1]. For a skeptical take, see Marco Arment [2]. Then again, he could just be expressing sour grapes because people with actual skill, money, and time are invading his turf. FWIW, I have listened to a lot of NPR via podcast for many years, and see a podcast-only version of it as a natural step. At this point, the amateur "three nerds and a microphone" stuff is…

"Then again, he could just be expressing sour grapes because people with actual skill, money, and time are invading his turf."

Uh, what? That's pretty disrespectful. ATP is one of the best produced and most popular tech podcasts out there today.

Re: ‘Serial,’ Podcasting’s First Breakout Hit, Sets Stage for More

#50
post #43

I've heard that when TV started spreading people thought it would never overtake radio. "Who has time to just sit and watch something?" You can listen to audio while you do other things. Podcasting is probably my main "media" for the last 5 or so years. I listen to 15-20 hours per week as I commute, exercise, wash dishes… Right now. As a marginal, unprofitable, poorly understood medium podcasts are amazingly "free."…

Any recommendations? I'm loving Serial, I listened to nearly all of it today. Occasionally I listen to Startups For the Rest of Us ( http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/ ) but it's hit and miss if the content is relevant for me. Hardcore History is excellent. It'd be nice to discover some more.

This American Life, the show that created (I think more or less), Serial, is a great show. 99% Invisible is a great show about design. Radio Diaries is interesting. If you're into super thoughtful discussions about religion, science, meditation, and so on, On Being is fantastic. Other ones worth checking out:

* Radiolab

* Stuff You Should Know

* Studio 360

But - Serial is definitely my favourite podcast of all time. I'm not sure there's anything better out there.

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