DurÂing a radio interÂview yesÂterÂday (iTunes — mp3), Jon GorÂdon, the host of Future Tense, asked me
whether uniÂverÂsiÂties will conÂtinÂue pourÂing conÂtent into their iTunes troves in 2007. The answer boiled down to this: PodÂcastÂing stands poised to proÂlifÂerÂate in ’07, much like the web did back in ’95 and ’96. Just a year ago, the New Oxford AmerÂiÂcan DicÂtioÂnary selectÂed “podÂcast” as the “Word of the Year.” The buzz is out there. But how many peoÂple have ever lisÂtened to a podÂcast firstÂhand? It turns out not too many. In a recent surÂvey, the Pew Research CenÂter found that only 12% of web users have ever worked with podÂcasts (as comÂpared to 7% one year priÂor), and only 1% downÂload them daiÂly. These numÂbers are partÂly a reflecÂtion of supÂply and demand. Not too long ago, podÂcasts were fairÂly limÂitÂed in numÂber. But, durÂing the past 12 months, many uniÂverÂsiÂties (see our full colÂlecÂtion) have carved out some space on iTunes and develÂoped subÂstanÂtial colÂlecÂtions. SomeÂwhere in ’07, we should hit an inflecÂtion point. SupÂply will increase demand. Demand will trigÂger more supÂply. We’ll see expoÂnenÂtial growth and nevÂer look back. The days where you could perÂsonÂalÂly keep tabs on all the great new podÂcasts will simÂply be over, although we’ll sift through them and highÂlight what’s worth your time.
Resources MenÂtioned in InterÂview:
- UC BerkeÂley’s 59 coursÂes availÂable via podÂcast
- StanÂford coursÂes availÂable via PodÂcast
- StanÂford LecÂtures
