Apple to sell podcasts via iTunes?
updated 01:50 pm EST, Tue December 27, 2005
Fee-based podcasts coming?
Apple may begin selling subscriptions to podcasts via its popular iTunes service begining as early next year. Although Apple currently offers a full podcast directory, all of the listed content--from both individuals and growing number of companies--is available for free; however, that may change soon. According to a Macworld UK --that promises to offer podcasts for sale through iTunes "in the very near future." The company says it will offer live performance footage from the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival which takes place in late January 2006.
"We have developed exclusive video invitations from artists appearing at the festival and created a promotional podcast concert series. We then distributed it throughout the Web, on iTunes, podcast directories, Google Video, and many more websites." says Martin Elmore, president of What I Want Podcasting.
"In the very near future, we are going to offer podcasts for sale on iTunes, which will feature clips of the concert this January 26-28."
Ah
12/27, 02:16pm reply
It was expected, there had to be a way to get payed for a podcast. Is Apple acting as the record company now? Clearly a first careful step into that direction. :)
Peter Bonte
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
What Apple should be...
12/27, 08:29pm reply
This is precisely what Apple should be doing, creating new markets for media (rather then wasting their time on petty law suits). If this is indeed in the works, all I have to say is Way to Go Apple. I hope you make a bundle of money.
debohun
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 1999
All podcasts,
12/28, 04:30am reply
or just certain ones, such as professionally produced? I won't pay for cheesy home-made podcasts.
mymacluvsme
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Joined: Aug 2004
re: all podcasts,
12/28, 12:25pm reply
That, and no commercials.
JohnnyFive
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Joined: Feb 2003
re: all podcasts
12/28, 01:07pm reply
Hey, people pay for cheesy home-made music, why not for home-made podcasts. They'll sell what people are willing to buy. Easy enough. Of course, you listen to a podcast for its content (in theory), not whether its cheesily made. So if the content is worth it, who cares if its professional quality or two guys with a reel-to-reel tape recorder?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Decision...
12/28, 06:03pm reply
For Apple as podcasts start numbering in the thousands, I see that there will need to be a separation between free and paid podcasts within the iTMS, but at some point it will be too expensive to have both and once paid are numerous and profitable, the free stuff will come from other sites.
It is called a maturing media area.
MacnnGregor
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Joined: Apr 2004