The Podaward
June 6, 2007 by upyourego
I’ve just been going through the Webby Award Winners and surprise surprise the BBC have done pretty well – but not for their podcasts.
There is no originality to the BBC podcasts – mainly because of ever tighter regulation that’s strangling the Corporations ability to innovate.
The Webby podcast winner for both award and people’s voice award was the NPR podcast. Guardian, Scientific America, Spout and the Onion were all nominated.
So Aunty has mainstream popularity but no the awards (well not one of the biggest net awards anyway) and the awards aren’t going to come until the chain of being tied to what goes out on air is dropped.
This might happen when the iPlayer comes around, or at the very least more shows will be podcast and there will be more opportunities to do something unique.
The BBC needs to start using podcasting as another broadcasting platform alongside web, tv and radio. It needs to start creating shows just for podcast instead of podcasting shows made for TV/Radio.
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I would have to agree wholeheartedly with all you say.
99% of the podcasts I am subscribed to are courtesy of the BBC - mainly because they are shows from the radio which I miss due to work or whatever.
One of the main things which bugs me currently is the restrictions which govern the use of music in podcasts though, surely artists should be happy to have their songs played as much as possible - although I do understand there are copyright issues at the crux of the matter.
New shows specifically for podcasts would be good - I already subscribe to a podcast like this from the States where the producers of Lost talk about the episodes which have aired so far, preview upcoming episodes and also answer fan questions. Surely the BBC could do something similar for fans of Dr Who or Who Wants to Be Joseph or whatever.
There is a podcast about The Apprentice, however I think this is basically an edited version of a show they broadcast on Radio Five.
Switching to podcast-only content is really the only way that podcasting can move on from radio and take it the next step further, allowing people to truly listen to what they like, when they like - music and everything.
Yeah I personally think podcasting can and will stand as a platform in its own right - away from radio/television.
Shows can be created cheaper and quicker for podcast than for radio so I can see podcasting taking over from Radio4 as the proving ground for new shows.
Some UK companies are having a go at original podcast formats away from just a quick discussion.
My favourite other than the BBC is Guardian - there new Many Questions podcast hosted by Lucy Porter is VERY good - a bit like a Radio4 comedy game show.
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve subscribed to that podcast - despite the rather poor reviews it’s had on iTunes!!