Yahoo! apologizes deeply, but we will be closing down the Podcasts site on Oct. 31, 2007

From the looks of things, they should close it down now. It looks like a ghost town.

It’s too bad. Yahoo Podcasts had a good user interface, but I’m sure it had a hard time paying the bills compared to some other businesses Yahoo is trying to make work. And I’m sure it reflects Yahoo’s new strategy efforts to get the company more focused.

So long Yahoo Podcasts.

[tags]yahoo podcasts, podcast directory[/tags]

GigaVox Audio Lite assembles podcasts dynamically from audio/video/HTML components such as ads, promos, intros, outros, and program material. The component-based solution allows you to publish current content as well as update already-published content without manual editing.

Podango will incorporate GigaVox Audio Lite features and capabilities into its P2 podcasting platform, enabling publishers to automate component show assembly and improve post-production management.

Though the GigaVox Audio Lite beta is closed for new customers, Podango will continue to support existing customers through the transition period. The beta program will open again once the integration with the P2 platform is complete.

The news was first released to TechCrunch
[tags]Podango, Gigavox[/tags]

Fusa Capital, a media company that owns and operates a network of search engine websites, has launched the latest entrant into the podcast search engine and directory melee, Podanza.com.

Podanza bills itself as a podcast search engine and directory which aggregates free audio and video podcasts from over 5,000 international producers. When searching for podcasts, search results can be limited by video or audio podcasts only.

Podanza looks good, and similar to Yahoo Podcasts in many ways. Although, I’m not sure why they would spend the money to build it as there are already plenty of other directories out there. It’s hard for me to see how this has a good ROI for them.

I looked at Fusa’s financial reports. They must be one of the smallest public companies ever. 2006 revenues were about $15k and 2007 seem to be about $1.5k per month after spending a boat load of moola on expenses. Gotta wonder how things like this are allowed to be public companies.

[tags]podcast directory, yapd[/tags]

Originally launched in August 2006, BlogTalkRadio (BTR) is a free, web-based platform which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive radio show. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host’s BTR webpage. Since the company’s launch more than 8,000 hosts have broadcast on BTR.

The newly redesigned site features live text-chat, a social networking component and video uploading capability. BTR’s listeners can also now create member profiles, share preferences and rate and save favorite shows. The enhanced search functions also let users find relevant content in the programming guide and in the archive of 23,000 shows.

“We spent the first year developing the site with hosts in mind,” said Alan Levy, CEO and founder of BlogTalkRadio. “Now that we have over 3,500 active hosts and 200 live shows a day, we knew we needed to make the site more functional for listeners, more searchable and more interactive. The BTR platform is all about conversation and now we are building social communities around these conversations.”

“We also want to make it easy for the hosts to promote what they’re doing. We’re adding many Web 2.0 tools, templates and tips for hosts to promote their own content,” adds Lisa Padilla, VP of Marketing for BlogTalkRadio.

Once a show has aired on BTR, the archive becomes available for subscription via RSS for iTunes or any other podcatcher. Hosts can also place the BTR flash player on their blogs or websites, so visitors can access archived shows. No downloads are required to host or listen to a show.

Notable hosts and guests from BTR’s eclectic list include host Marla Cilley, known to millions as The FlyLady; host Mark Frauenfelder of the top-rated blog Boing Boing; host the Los Angeles Fire Department; and guests Senator John McCain and actress Jennifer Hudson.

I did my duty to try it out, and it is not yet ready for prime time.  Adding casts to “mycasts” didn’t work and the rendering was screwed up using Internet Explorer.  Todd Cochrane is the guy behind Blubrry and I hope it gets working better for him. Todd is the guy who got the Tech podcasting network started and has been very active getting podcasting networks off the ground. Blubrry seems like another attempt at getting a network model off the ground.

I’m all for something like this working, but so far all these networks seem to be focusing on creating benefits for advertisers, not listeners.  I know the advertisers want to be able to deal with a small number of aggregators so they can spend their big bucks and the aggregators can parse out the money to the real workers, the podcasters.
But what’s in it for the listeners.  I’m looking for quality content in genres that interest me, not general unfiltered stuff for everyone.

I wish Todd and crew well.