Premium Podcasts. Would you pay to listen to a podcast

I think you are partial correct. Someone coming from regular radio can create a model that works. I am a huge coast to coast fan and pay monthly to have the episodes via podcast.

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Originally Posted by cseeman

I wouldn't and more importantly I don't think this is a viable business model at this stage in the industry's growth.

While people might subscribe to services (Netflix, HuluPlus, etc) and they may be for series content such as "TV show" style content, I can't see many paying for podcasts as I know them. You'd really have to define this though.

Take RippleTraining for example. Their tutorials are all paid but their MacBreackStudio series and their occasional live streams with PixelCorp are all free. It is possible to use free podcasts to entice sales of their in depth tutorials as they do, but that isn't simply "premium" content as its tutorials not podcasts per se, that you buy.

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I think the model can work for well produced, compelling Internet broadcasts under the right circumstances…Glenn Beck's done it with http://www.theblaze.com/tv/ , but most traditional broadcasters who've attempted the the pay per play model have failed.

I know Tom Leykis is attempting it, but I'm not sure how well he's doing. His audience, while loyal, seem a little apathetic, unlike Beck's, so I'm assuming that they are less inclined to spend money to listen….I could be wrong.

I'm not really a fan of paying for something that was originally free. Something like this could turn people off to a podcast altogether.

I agree with you but what if its not free. What about bonus material or extra shows?

Yet I think of the examples posted are the exception not typical. Yes they come from a broadcast background so they already have very large audiences. This also means that at some point they were offering a lot of free content (usually advertiser supported) to garner that audience. Consider how big these shows were before they were able to offered paid versions.

It's kind of like pointing at a profitable Hollywood film and inferring that any of the thousands of indy filmmakers can just distribute and charge $15 a ticket. Of course I'd pay for an indie film if it had strong recommendations or, I had previous experience with the creators or, was a subject I was deeply into. That doesn't mean that the indy filmmakers is going to garner a mass audience that way though. In other words, most would not pay to see the film and the filmmakers struggle. Podcasting isn't that much different except I expect the "success" rate is even lower than Hollywood.

It all depends on what the bonus material consists of.
I've listened to Howard, and O&A on KRock. I don't have a Sirius or XM subscription, so I do without. Unless, of course, I'm with a friend who does.

Porn seems to do well behind a pay wall. The success depends on the consumer's motivation, I guess.

Yes, but there are still a lot of free porn sites to choose from. Also, if someone really wants certain content, there are ways to get it for free.

Does anyone here offer premium content to go along with their show. I think one great way would be to offer video at a price and give the audio away for free.

I posted this thread on some of the google communities (I hope you dont mind Andrew). Todd Cochrane said this :
When we did a community poll more than a year ago, we only had about 25 shows respond that wanted to make their content available aka premium.. Either Pay Per View or Series subscription.

With the amount of content out there, the content in my opinion has to be over the top good.

I am surprised to see even 25 people say they want to go to a premium model.