Video: The death knell of podcasting
Brought to you by Steve Jobs

I just downloaded and watched Wichita Rutherford’s initial entry into video podcasting. It was pathetic. Gone was the charm and wit, and in its place was a rushed entry into this new world of video podcasting. Why? Because Apple says, hey, we got video capability on this new iPod. Buy one!

Let’s not fall into that trap! Who among us is ready to do video, and do it right? Not Wichita Rutherford and not many of us podcaster’s, either.

But consider “War of the Worlds” when delivered by Orson Welles. A story told over the radio that was so convincing that it incited panic. When was the last time you were inspired to panic by a television program? If you saw Martians attacking planet earth on television, you’d think, duh, it must be either the Sci-Fi or History channel. But if you heard it on the radio, well that’s another thing.

I can do many things on a standard podcast. I can take a freak giant cherry that was grown in a field in Iowa, air lift it by chopper, and drop it into Lake Michigan, which has been filled with whipped cream by the Chicago Fire Department’s boats at the behest of da mare. Try doing that on a video podcast! You might be able to, but you won’t do it every week - no matter how much equipment you have, or how much talent you have.

To sum up, I have a fear. I fear that the rush to backfill Steve Jobs concept of everyone buying his new device, and everyone feeling like they need to make a video to accommodate it, will make their podcasts fall short.

Case in point? Wichita’s rather lame excuse of a video podcast that he surely felt compelled to do just to get one out there. And the promise that more of that is coming? Wichita should just be his endearing self, as should we.

Let’s see how you feel.

videocasts will not overtake podcasts anytime soon if ever. The cost of entry is the first thing holding video back, I spent $10 on a mic and that was it. I had a podcast the next day. It costs more than ten times that to get a decent camera.

There is also the storage and bandwidth concern. Video is much larger filesize-wise and thus will take up more hosting space and download time. I used to download a video podcast but stopped since it never added anything that the audio version was lacking.

Not only that some podcasters wouldnt feel comfortable in front of a camera, plus the show would lose it's effect since you are trying to be not only entertaining to the ears, but visually as well.

I have an idea for a video podcast, but it will be very different from my normal show and designed for visual entertainment as well as audio.

And I will add to Closetgeekshow's list.

Video is not passive. You can't work, drive, or do any of the things while watching video that you can do while listening to podcasts.

Just as TV did not replace radio, video on the ipod will not replace audio in podcatsing. It is just not realistic.

Video is still cool. I will second the motion that podcasters should not just jump in because they can. If you are going to do video, try to make it something good and/ or at least interesting.

It does seem that a number of people are starting to rush into doing video podcasts. But that won't kill podcasting. It will hurt the folks who put out sloppy material that has been hastily prepared to catch on to a fad.

One thing to remember is that people have many more opportunities to listen than they do to watch. So while I do believe that video podcasts will gain in popularity. I also believe that audio podcasting will remain strong as long as their is compelling content available.

to console your fear, i believe you might be wrong.

just because wichita did one video that wasn't that great (by your words since i don't listen/watch him) doesn't mean that many will jump headfirst into the video podcasting pool when there's only 2 feet of water in it.....

those who are going to do it will be doing it right. those that don't do it right won't be doing it for long.....

let's not take this discussion into reasoning as to why it will fail (we have a couple threads like this already), but rather to discuss william's concerns about people rushing into it when they're not ready to.....

Podcasting hasn’t even taken off yet. A surprising number of otherwise well informed geeks don’t know about it. And the general public? They have no clue at all.

I’ve only seen one video podcast so far, and it was terrible. Without the video it could have risen in quality all the way up to mediocre.

How can videocasting kill podcasting – podcasting isn’t even alive yet. It’s barely in its infancy.

Whenever a new media comes along, “experts” tell us it will kill old media. It doesn’t. Radio didn’t kill records. Movies didn’t kill radio. TV didn’t kill movies. VHS didn’t kill movies. Video didn’t kill the radio star. And podcasting isn’t old media, it’s hardly even new media.

We still don’t know how well podcasting will take off, or even if it will. The number of general public listeners, compared to other media, is a rounding error. Most of us (myself included) think it’s going to explode, but that hasn’t happened yet.

You want to do video, fine, do video. (And please make it something worth looking at, not talking heads.) But audio podcasts haven’t even arrived yet, so it’s far too early to worry about video.

There have been great videocasts since the beginning. If you haven't checked out Rocketboom or TIki Bar TV what are you waiting for?

These two are great examples of the power of video and they have been around as long as most of the podcasts out there.

It will be fun to see amateur's producing some video casts. Honestly, though - I'm more excited by the potential of downloading missed TV shows or things like that. I suspect I would watch most video on my computer, not on the iPod itself. I used to fly a lot but don't as much - it would be nice for being on a flight and certain other situations.

I'm less interested in video-casting 'shows' by amateurs than the possibility of delivering occasional 'shorts'. A show requires commitment and time on an ongoing basis and, I think, we've talked about this kind of stuff before - video is hard work. I think it would be hard to sustain a 'show' per se for most people. BUT amateur's having the occasional idea for a short concept video every now and then to express their creativity via a hobby only? Yea. I think that has real potential for both the occasional creative video guy and watchers.

But commercially, the money is going to probably be more in the commercially produced shows.

Just My Opinion.

That is a genius metaphor.

I Feel that just like Radio and TV tend to be diffrent critters Video and Audio podcasts are going to be the same kind of situatiuon.

Personally I Plan to have a Video show now and then but I lack the time to produce one more then maybe one every 4 months or so . And the only reason that I’m considering it in the first place is that I’m a Visual artist so I actually have a reason to have a Video cast. Its just going to take up more too much of my already spent time .

I feel that the video and radio are going to attract different people. (both Listener and Casters alike)

Also your not going to be able to watch a Videocast while driving , at work , or jogging , and for me painting , its just not practical . and at the same time not many people are going to be able to produce a videocast while doing the same. Most of my shows are made after 11:00 pm or later and I look like hell …. Video cast …NOT .

If Videocasting was going to be the downfall to Audio podcasting . the hand held TV would have killed the Walkman in the late 90’s …. And who killed the walkman …. The MP3 player .. not the hand held TV. (have owned one in 1997 it was color , about the same size as the Video Ipod……never used it)

Aslo If your thinking about Making a Video cast ... think about this
Bandwith costs and Server Storage Space . . . . .

I agree with this.

Great discussion!

I was a little afraid that I might have been a bit harsh in my original post, but I did want to get that off my chest. Consider it a brain dump

But you all got it. The concern being that folks might tend to just jump in there and distract from their otherwise great podcasts seems valid.

Far be it from me to discourage actual talent from doing fantastic video casts. And the idea that most of us can create a cool one on occasion without taking away from their audio podcasting is definately something worth doing when ready or when the idea strikes.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I feel vindicated, a little.

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Jadcasts are Pickle show number 1822

I started a thread a while back and there was similar arguments for Podcasting Audio not going anywhere soon with the advent of Video.

Video Killed the Radio Star

I myself believe that Audio podcasting is here to stay but that the demand for Video will surprise many. And the big bucks (for those who want to make a business out of this) will be in the Video segment for those who have a meaningful message and professional quality.

While professional quality does not come cheap, it is a heck of a lot less then it used to be and I reckon that under $10,000 gives you everything you need. I know that is a lot of money but considering that the sponsorships will be in the millions.... Well you do the math.

I'd don't know how true this is. Regardless of whether or not you're doing audio or video, no one will give you money without a good idea and not just a good idea, a marketable idea that will pull in listeners. The sort of thinking that people will throw money at you just because you're doing the new fad with several buzzwords thown in; is the sort of thinking that caused the internet boom to bust.

Closet Geek,

I agree with you 100%, the pre-requisite will always be good material, good content and good presentation. That goes for Audio or Video.

I assumed that of anyone that would be posting here.

Maybe I missed something but I don't understand the "video will kill podcasting" argument...there's been similar threads on 2 other podcast forums that I've seen.

Audio and Video are very different media...and people will use them differently. I listen to the bulk of my podcasts instead of radio (i.e. in situations where audio is the only option...I can't watch video while working or while walking to work).

I may in the future be interested in videocasts instead of TV ('cos lord knows most TV sucks) but I'll still want my audio for when I walk or commute or work.

I agree with closetgeek and pegasus tho' - the quality of either is what's going to determine whether or not I listen...I bascially ask myself 2 questions...is it better than the alternatives? is the content of interest to me?

my 2 cents' worth

I don't get it either, BSquared. It seems like the "VHS and Beta" debates. I think it's much more of a "television will replace radio" debate, where the result is that the two can coexist, even help each other, instead of have it be only source.

Videocasts won't overtake podcasts, but they will attract a new breed of content producers, and for some podcasters add a little spice. You know, just like how all us married couples eventually get tired of plain old sex in bed all the time and every once in a while have a quickie in a tent in a sporting goods store or under a library table.

So what if Wichataw's video wasn't great? It's not like you can demand your money back. Good for him for giving it a try, just like he did with podcasting. I haven't heard his first ever podcast, but I bet it wasn't as good as the ones he puts out now.

I can't believe how many podcasters are sounding like retirees keveching about them there new-fangled bleeping and flashing gadgets everyone seems to need these days. A few months ago they were all trailblazers into a completely new field.

One more thing--a few months ago I put a poll up on my blog asking visitors what they wanted from me. The #1 answer or very close to it was videos. But then again, I live in Tokyo, not Smallville USA.

Nice try

OMG richpav I'm never going to be able to go to the library again for fear of tripping over the bored married couples having a quickie under the table

But you're right has been quite strange to hear the fear some podcasters have about video...it's not all listeners will want all shows to switch to video...and as for poor quality....there are some appalling podcasts out there in terms of quality...they either won't survive or they'll learn and improve...as will videocasters.

I'm pretty confident that video is not the end of the world...just as TV didn't kill radio

This is an excellent thread and lots of folks are making great points.

Years ago I thought about how common folks will have access to computers to record audio etc.... One of the thoughts I had was that of course there will be alot of crap produced along with great stuff.

The new foray into VidCasting seems to be another example of everyone having the gear to produce something. Who cares about folks who make a crappy vid? There will be a group of people who manage to do something rather special.

We're contemplating some video stuff, but not just of us sitting and doing our show. Probably it will have a reality TV format, and maybe even some "Jamie Kennedy" style bits. The full on PRODUCTION of video will come when we get set up in our new commercial space.

The time involved in video production is really the deterrent for me to get involved. Producing video well is MUCH harder than producing a show of audio. It's going to be especially hard to get great video content. As I do, I look to Howard Stern as a model of success. Something along the lines of his E-show would be fun, but I also like a bit of Reality tv in there somewhere. The right personalities, coupled with a good production/format will break out.

I still say for people to go for it, because sometimes things start out shitty and can evolve into something great. Just because ONE person does ONE bad vidcast doesn't mean that EVERYONE will. What kind of perspective is that?

Sometimes I've watched stuff BECAUSE it was so bad. There's a show in Denver on PBS called Innervision. When it started the production values were pretty darn bad, SO bad in fact that I was watching it because it was HUMOROUSLY bad. Since those earlier shows, the producer made some great changes and now the show is swiftly improving.

How was your first podcast? Was it bad? Did you get better? Well vidcasting is going to open up a great door of "shitty" first comers, some of them might become great.

GET A POWER MAC G5, LOAD IT WITH FINAL CUT AND TONS OF RAM! BOOM! YOUR SET! I freakin' LOVE the era we live in.

Love your damn Barefoot Radio.

L did a video called Essence:

Link to Essence Video

We would Love any feedback from anyone on our Forum, Please?

The Video only tangentially touches on the subject matter of her Podcasts. You should know that L is currently a part time student at NYU studying Digital Film Making, so she is taking this very seriously, but still having a lot of fun with it!

The Video that she will do will be shorts of 3 to 4 minutes and will be very different then the casts. Video allows us to take a viewer on a journey with images and allows for a different kind of creativity then the 'Theatre of the Mind' that so many have discussed in relation to Podcasts. As so many have pointed out, probably correctly, the two genres will coexist. I for one am more excited by the video aspect because it allows for imagery and, in my opinion, more creativity.

Very few will be able to make quality video but those that can combine Art, Content and Message will thrive.

I am anxious to see what folks come up with!

And another thing as well I have 8+ hours to listen to audio because my work allows me to listen to music (I do data entry) and maybe 3 or 4 hours a day to actually watch video.

Video may be another option but it wont be the replace all for podcasts

My problem is becoming that I run out of podcasts to listen to because I have 8 + hours a day to listen.

If you don't already, listen to Bibb and Yaz and Switched On a few of their shows will fill up an 8 hour day pretty damn quickly.

It's a point that seems to keep coming up, but; not many people want to see a talking head clicking some buttons and talking to themselves. If you're going to do a video cast, do something that will be worth people commiting time to. NYUB did his first vidcast a couple of weeks ago which was simply a music vid from unsigned artist The Erroplanes - something that people wouldn't usually find without looking.

I do think that a number of shows that currently only do audio would benefit from going to video casting; Switched On are one that would be interesting to see as a video. It's all one long big huge experiment really, until people take the plunge and churn out the content we won't really be able to guage how popular it'll be; I certainly don't think it's the death knell...not just yet.

I second this. (Well, actually, it's probably eighth or ninth by now,) but I feel like video adds virtually nothing to a show that only features someone talking. I might love listening to someone talk, but short of a mild curiosity about what someone looks like, I don't really have any interest in just sitting around watching them talk. Especially since it means I can't be doing anything else at the time. (Working, driving, etc.)

I've done one video podcast so far, but I only did it because it featured a science experiment that could not really be appreciated with audio alone. That should be the criteria for whether a podcast is audio only or video. Does it contain something that can only be appreciated visually?

Of course, that type of video is a lot more work than one where you just turn on the webcam and produce one continuous shot for an hour while you talk about carpet lint or whatever. So I think that, at least for a while, most video podcasts are going to be of the talking head variety.

I used to watch the diggnation vidcast but it added zero to the audio show and it took four times as long to download so I listen to the audio one just because it means I get it faster.

I really hope people don't jump on the vidcast bandwagon just because it's hip b/c they'll lose a lot of listeners that are only looking for audio content or aren't in a situation where they can frivolously download large files all the time.

Right on Brent! Absolutely.


Jack

I soak in lots of new podcasts each week. I have no interest at all in video whatsoever. Audio will always be here. Video is overrated.

exactly. A large portion of the listeners who send me feedback are female, i'm sure that would stop as soon as I kicked in the vidcast. So nuts to video.

I just got my Video Ipod .. and as a podcaster and someone who have been playing with the videos here is my opinion

Video podcasting and Audio podcasting are way too diffrent. I have loved every video cast I have subscribed to. But you know something ,coverville , Dragonpage, Skepticalty, Soccergirl and all my other podcasts are still going to be piped out of my headphones. I'm just way too busy and always mutlitasking. its too the point where those shows that have both Video and aduio I subscribe to both. Audio you are still able to use your hands and eyes doing something else . (Cleaning house, Driving , Checking email, bodypainting, Taking over the world, that sort of thing) But Video ..well to best watch the effects of this.. look at your kids while they are watching carttoons. ZOMBIES I TELL YOU!

Audio is here to stay