Podcasting and vlogging: It’s all about the distribution

Media reports on two rapidly-emerging communication tools – (audio) podcasting and video logging, or vlogging or vblogging:

• BBC News on podcasting, featuring pioneer Adam Curry: An Apple iPod or other digital music players can hold anything up to 10,000 songs, which is a lot of space to fill. But more and more iPod owners are filling that space with audio content created by an unpredictable assortment of producers. It is called “podcasting” and its strongest proponent is former MTV host and VJ (video jockey) Adam Curry. Podcasting takes its name from the Apple iPod, although you do not need an iPod to create one or to listen to a podcast. A podcast is basically an internet-based radio show which podcasters create, usually in the comfort of their own home. They need only a microphone, a PC, and some editing software. They then upload their shows to the internet and others can download and listen to them, all for free. Using technology based on XML computer code and RSS – Really Simple Syndication – listeners can subscribe to podcasts collected automatically in a bit of software, which Mr Curry has pioneered. The latest MP3 files of shows can then be picked up by a music playing device automatically. >> Full story
• Business Week on vlogging: Video blogs are proliferating, thanks to improved distribution technology, and mainstream companies are taking notice. […] Vlogging is due in large part to the spread of better distribution technology. Broadband is now in more than 40% of online U.S. households, meaning roughly 31 million people can now stream video easily. Another boost has come from the widespread adoption of blogging software known as really simple syndication, or RSS, which lets people customize content. With RSS, users can choose the types of video they want to see and have it sent automatically to their PCs. At the same time, cheaper digital video gear and better copyright protection is convincing more folks to put their work online. >> Full story

What’s the common thread? Distribution – RSS. Having the content is one thing, getting it easily to consumers is the key thing.

If you use FeedBurner to syndicate your blog, take a look at their useful guide to posting audio and/or video content in an RSS feed.