Podcast Perspective
A couple of weeks ago, with almost uncanny timing, we received some unprecedented feedback from two separate sources regarding our debut unto the podcasting world. At the time we were busying ourselves with all sorts of projects, but we took the information on board and referred to it when figuring out our 2008 plans.
Now that we’ve had a moment to catch breath, it seems only courteous to respond.
BlogF1
First up was a post entitled ‘F1 Podcasts: Do You Listen To Them?‘ from BlogF1, which detailed Ollie’s thoughts about Formula 1 podcasting this year. He raised a couple of points worth looking into further, most of which relate to how bad we are at promoting some of our own features.
For example, Ollie suggests:
What would be awesome - if possible - is if you could split a podcast up into chapters, much like on a DVD, and the chapter list with short description be included in a universal format somewhere within the audio file that makes up a podcast.
Damnit, that is possible and we’ve been doing it since the very first show. The iTunes / iPod ecosystem allows for DVD style chapters within individual episodes (known as enhanced podcasts), but they won’t be available if you’re using an alternate aggregator or listening to the audio on this site.
Creating the enhanced part of the show often takes a considerable amount of extra time, yet if listeners don’t know about it then we’re literally wasting hours of work each week. Promoting these extras must be a priority this year.
A second point raised by Ollie related to our phone-in feature:
As far as I’m aware though, calling the number isn’t free, where as a typed comment is. So again, we come back to the humble blog.
I was gutted when I read this because you can phone us for free using Skype (username sidepodcast), but we simply haven’t been doing a very good job of promoting that fact.
Listener interaction is really important to us, so we’ll be doing more to encourage two-way conversations in future.
doctorvee
The second post of interest was entitled ‘F1 season review: podcasts‘ from doctorvee, which reviewed some of the best F1 podcasts from last year.
Of interest, the key point I took away from doctorvee was that he favours the weekly podcast over all of our other audio shows, saying:
…because I really like it when Christine and ‘me’ have an opinionated discussion, but the more factual and newsy elements of the podcast are not my cup of tea.
If we were to take our download statistics at face value we’d see our shows appear in the following order of popularity:
Statistically, the weakest link is the audio show that goes out each Sunday, yet this is doctorvee’s favourite show. Of note, this also happens to be the show that generates most listener feedback.
Forward Thinking
With the help of the two posts mentioned above, we’ve managed to glean a fabulous insight into Formula 1 podcasts from a listener’s perspective. We have a much better idea of what we’re doing compared to this time last year and we’ve got some great things lined up for the future.
If you have any thoughts on what you have / haven’t liked so far, or what you’d like to see more / less of, please do let us know in the usual places.
January 6th, 2008 at 12:35 pmlou said:
I love all the podcasts produced by sidepodcast, but I agree with doctorvee the weekly audio podcasts are my favourite! The banter, discussions and humour make it particularly enjoyable. You know that you can sit down and listen to an interesting and informative podcast full of opinions, which is great to listen to. They truly show your passion for the sport. The other podcasts are great too! Sidepodcast TV is a brilliant idea and helps you to understand more fully the coming racetrack and race. F1minute is also good as it saves me lots of time searching lots of sites which is useful as I am currently studying for exams. I am looking forward to many many more podcasts!!
lou
January 6th, 2008 at 12:47 pmOllie said:
I’m pleased you’re listening and learning, it should make Sidepodcast even better for the future. I should point out that some of my thoughts are more about podcasts in general, but I’m pleased you took them as constructive rather than destructive. And of course I learned something from that post thanks to Christine.
I didn’t mention it at the time, but I too prefer the weekly show over the others. Keep up the good work.
January 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pmDon Speekingleesh said:
I’ll echo the keep up the good work comments.
I prefer the weekly audio one too, for the same reasons as lou and Doctorvee. Generally it’s the first podcast I’ll listen to in a week.
Usually that’ll be followed by the TV, which I now have downloading to my media PC, which is very handy.
The miniseries, I listen to, but am less pushed about. For the most part I know all the details already, so I’m not the target market.
I haven’t listened to F1Minute yet (although I do read the feed), because I don’t use my mp3 player every day, but I do read my feeds several times a day.
January 6th, 2008 at 3:56 pmdoctorvee said:
Glad to be of help. I’m looking forward to see what you’ve got in store for the coming year!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:29 pmbrendan stallard said:
Its impossible to state which is my favourite part of Sidepodcast, each part: like a herb or salt in soup is important.
If dragged into interrogation and forced to answer….I must admit I really enjoy preference for Christine’s introductions to GP’s especially when they show some of the local colour. They are a visual feast, and Christine’s occasional lapse into the local language great fun.
I am fazed by a lot of the technical stuff in F1 and I for one appreciate a lot the extra time Me spends on explaining some of the more esoteric scientific stuff. Almost no one else does this, apart from the redoubtable Steve Matchett, on speedvision.
The capacity to be able to grasp that technology, and make it readable to those, like me is much appreciated.
Of course, you’re wrong about McLaren and RD, and Alonso is still a skunk:)
brendan
January 6th, 2008 at 11:46 pma.k.a. the Blue Orange Lion said:
Gotta call you one of these days (using Skype)! I should appear as Kovallainen, don’t know why I chose that instead something familiar!
January 6th, 2008 at 11:55 pmScott Dryden said:
Reading the above posts, it would appear that my preference is about as original as a photocopy, given that I also favour the weekly audio podcasts.
The various F1 news websites do a good job of providing the facts, but listening to your opinionated discussions offers both insight and entertainment.
January 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pmRich said:
What separates sidepodcast/F1 minute from other F1 blogs (and other sites generally) is the synergy existing between the various sections, F1 Minute, Sidepodcast TV, Mini Series and the Weekly Audio, with each having a clear role which engages with its audience in a very precise context. I would not want to see this changed fundamentally. In terms of pure entertainment Christine’s introductions to GP’s are wonderful, but the weekly audio podcast with the debate involving Christine and Me makes good and relaxing listening. I like it because it has opinion, but is not bigoted or too strongly biased (just a little Ferrari-bating is fun!). Each evening I also listen to F1 minute since I probably would not have had the time to have gone to the various websites. Consequently I feel that I have not missed any important development. The mini-series with its themed content also adds to one’s F1 knowledge base. As a user of iTunes, I would really like to see the extra investment in preparing the enhanced format with images and chapters, so to answer Me’s question - yes the enhanced format is very worthwhile for end users. To the Sidepodcast audience, if you do not use iTunes - try it out it is very impressive and spare a thought for the poor Linux users. For Linux users you can try CrossOver Office - a Windows emulator that now supports iTunes.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:43 pmme said:
interesting, i didn’t know that. might have to test that out if we get a minute.
it’s really quite annoying that apple haven’t been more open about their enhanced show specification.
i heard a rumour that adobe may have figured a way to make chapters / images appear within flash player, but whether that’ll ever see the light of day is another matter entirely.
the enhanced shows will play, but only the audio part.