BBC Expands Podcasting Trial To Determine Listener Tastes
The BBC is to expand its podcasting operation to encompass some of its most high profile programmes and allow internet users to download much more of its radio output.
The slew of newly enabled podcasts includes Radio 4’s flagship Today programme and selected Radio 1 speech content, taking the Corporation’s total number of podcasts to 22.
Speaking at Music Radio 2005, Simon Nelson, controller of BBC Radio and Music Interactive, revealed that more programmes will be available to download and podcast at www.bbc.co.uk/radio until the end of the year, following the popularity of the BBC’s previous podcast trials of Radio 4’s In Our Time and Five Live’s Fighting Talk (see BBC Claims Success For Radio Download Service).
“These technologies can transform the value we deliver to audiences and make our programmes more accessible for both new and existing audiences,” said Mr Nelson. “The BBC was the first British broadcaster to podcast when we made In Our Time available last year and this trial will enable us to further explore the editorial, technical and distribution issues involved.”
The BBC hopes to glean more statistics concerning listeners’ downloading habits, and their preferred content, from the extended variety of podcasts, after downloads of In Our Time topped 70,000 in November last year.
The on-going trial will also provide the Corporation with more data concerning the use of its on-demand content as a whole, forming part of a strategy for online development which Nelson is currently spearheading.
The podcast extension will see the BBC offering its first daily podcast service, beginning with the Today programme’s 8:10am interview.
The practice of downloading radio content looks set to increase over coming months, with more media owners expanding into on-demand services. Virgin Radio recently announced the creation of its first podcast output, making the Pete and Geoff Breakfast Show available to download and supporting the venture with the nation’s first example of ‘podvertising’ (see Virgin Makes Podvertising First With Pete And Geoff).
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