Week 7: Podcast

Podcast is considered a new technology( I only heard of podcast after I registered for MB362 =p) introduced in 2004 that has a great potential to be developed. Podcast is radio show format with short duration of 2 or 3 minutes. Podcast use the web2.0 paradigm where everyone can contribute.

What makes podcast desireable?
1. Like radio, you can listen to it while doing something else. Podcast contents can be news, documentary, sports.
2. It is time shifted component. It can be downloaded from the internet, and can be listened at convenient time.
3. Narrowcasted audience (the long tail). Not every show has many audience but collectively can make up a market.
4. Detachable from computer. Can be listened without computer, can be downloaded into other devices such as PSP, MP3 player.
5. Alternative and unregulated content.

Podcast -> potential business to be developed
Today many businesses are podcasting including General motors, The Walt Disney Company.
Podcasting can be used to give motivation, lectures, instructions to the employers. It's useful because the motivation the employee give at a particular time may not needed by every employer at that time. So the employer can listen to the motivation record at his convenient time.

Besides for internal use in a company podcasting also can be used to generate revenue. The podcasting company can charge fee per view or by subscription or can use ads. Since podcast is narrowcasted, the sponsor also has to be choosy on the show they wanted to sponsor. Such as a company that sell baby product won't sponsor a cricket match. A cricket match is mostly watch by youngster so the sponsor could be beer company.

Podcast could be used to cast presentation of a product to prospective buyer. Other usage in business is to present a solution of a problem or present a new project to the manager of company.