Web site finds profit in podcasts

Posted by Diana Epstein on March 27, 2006 at 12:00 PM

With podcasts downloadable for free, Audible.com's decision to charge for certain podcasts created quiet a bit of commotion in the Internet community. UK entertainer Ricky Gervias, whose 30-minute programs have become a hit for Audible.com, ranks as the 11h most popular album in the iTunes Music Store.

Charging $1.95 for podcasts both Audible.com and Gervias also created revenue. Despite the podcast download fee, Gervais’ first season of shows drew an estimated 4.5 million downloads. Although subscription and fee based downloading still needs to figure out the best way to approach attaching fees to podcasts, a whole new market of on-demand paid programming may be on the rise.

"We're thrilled at the response," said Don Katz chairman and CEO of Audible. "It's been a big hit and indicative of the fact podcasting is beginning to evolve."

Audible.com is also trying to capitalize on podcasting through "Wordcast," a package it has created of distribution and subscription technologies to let podcasters charge for content and demonstrate to advertisers that they have listeners, although response seems limited judging by what is offered at the Wordcast site.

Source: Market Watch