Evan Harrison, who heads up Clear Channel’s Internet unit, is the guest this week on BW’s podcast on the business of podcasting. I haven’t listened to the interview yet but host Heather Green posts that 6.5 million podcasts have been streamed or downloaded by the 80 Clear Channel stations offering these shows. Maybe this Internet thing isn’t all bad for radio. I’d love to ask Mr. Harrison if he’s more excited about online opportunities or HD radio.
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I listened to this today and it sounded pretty much like what you’d expect Clear Channel to say. I admit I was half-listening while working on something else, but it sounded to me like Clear Channel’s hope for podcasting is that it ultimately drives up listenership to its radio stations by building loyalty and allowing on-demand listening. I’m not sure that’s gonna happen over the long haul, but I can’t blame them for trying.
I tend to agree. None of my favorite podcasts are (or would ever be) on traditional radio. I wonder of many folks aren’t hungry for alternative programming. If all we’re doing is place/time shifting the same old radio stuff, what have we gained? Convenience? Yep. I think something else is going on here and I don’t think you’ll grok it until you start listening to the new stuff. Somehow it’s just difficult to imagine listening to the Ricky Gervais Show on KPUD-AM. But, as I’m fond of saying, we’ll know soon.