Podcasting???

KP and Sequoia, the guys that brought us Google, just invested in PodShow.com, a site that is "Making Podcasting Better."  OK, I got into this blogging thing for a few reasons, and I'm sticking with them...  but I have to admit, I just don't get Podcasting.  So, I'm interested that these guys are claiming to make it better.

My fundamental problems with Podcasting:  1.) most people just aren't that interesting, 2.) do we really need more talk-radio?, 3.) listening to content just isn't as efficient as reading it, 4.) the "unsigned" music thing is interesting, but they still need distribution and production, 5.) Joe Anybody as a DJ is interesting, but again production quality is low and I've got an iPod to be my own DJ.

I guess I understand being able to record a radio broadcast of someone I'm interested in and save it to my iPod to listen to later.  I could even envision listening to an earnings call a few days after it occurred when I have the chance.  But I don't need Podcasting for this.  I just don't have any interest in hearing most people talk about something that I could 1.) read more quickly, 2.) skip sections of, 3.) cut and paste or print to show to someone else, 4.) hear with better production value on the radio, or 5.) WATCH ON TV -- that thing you own five of that does radio but better.

So, now there's PodShow.com.  Do they really make Podcasting better?  They are providing tools for Podcasters to increase production value as well as promote their casts through aggregation and make money on them.  POINT FOR PODCASTING.  They also have a lot of content, including sports, talk radio, music, weather and just about everything else you can find on the radio.  But it's still radio.  NEUTRAL.  I like the idea of someone being able to create a radio station that actually plays good music, but I've got an iPod for that.  There just aren't that many "new" radio concepts that I think I'm going to find interesting.  NEUTRAL.  However, to be fair I took a listen to some of their "top shows":

Skinny on Sports:  Pretty crappy compared to ESPN.  Who cares about these guys' opinion?

Yeast Radio: Weird.  Lesbian issues, sounds funny, didn't get past promo which played over and over again. (Note, the whole office is looking at me funny for 1.) having this turned up too loud, 2.) having this on at work at all, and 3.) hearing "fucking" come out of my office in a quasi-transsexual voice).

Accident Hash: Decent Music.  "Right in Metro-west Boston."  Production quality very mediocre.
(Note, someone just closed my office door)

MINUS ONE POINT FOR PODCASTING.

So, 1+0+0+1=0.  I'm neutral on Podcasting, which makes me ask the question -- what am I missing here?

Comments

[John Furrier]

My podcast www.podtech.net InfoTalk has seen traffic that has far surpassed my wildest expectations. If you saw my traffic logs you might see some very interesting traffic patterns...

[Russell Glass]

John, I just listened to the Reid Hoffman interview, and enjoyed it very much. Reminds me of CEOcast .

Plus one point for podcasting...