Podcasts: (some) People are Starting to Listen

(click chart to enlarge)

According to an interesting survey by Pew Internet & American Life Project, an August benchmark of 12% of Internet users are downloading and listening/viewing podcasts, up from 7% in Q1 2006.

I've been downloading podcasts for exactly a year now, and the content really hasn't exploded. There have been a few highlights: there was the initial series of the Ricky Gervais Podcast where we came to chortle at the right-angled views of life from 'Carl', and for us musician/studio engineering enthusiasts the Barenaked Ladies series was extremely engaging (until this one just fell of the map with no conclusion whatsoever.) The CBC has done a surprisingly excellent job of moving much of its radio show content to the pod. And I think right now the Bill Maher series is incredible (granted it's just a lift from his HBO show.) However, for all its potential, there is very little sustained audio podcast content, and even less on the video side.

It's been an interesting year observing how this new age 'talking stick' could be utilized. Monetization of the content certainly hasn't happened. There have been spurts of inspiration, but the pick up on the listening numbers in this chart is probably due to the massive increase in iPod sales over the year, not in penetration. I'm willing to bet at this point that podcasts will never become mainstream devices for companies, broadcasters, organizations, or individuals to move content to the masses.

(I was tipped to this survey from a blog that Dave Forde's started up: Profectio--bringing together Canada's Connected Community Dave used to be the GM of AIMS CANADA)