Podshow on the way, in many ways

Published by neil on June 13th, 2006

Yes, Podshow are setting up shop in the UK.
Yes, Podshow are talking to podcasters in the UK.
Yes, Podshow are hiring in the UK.

And yes… there is a dialogue taking place between myself and Podshow.

My Skype ‘mood message’ currently, and appropriately (based on some recent podcaster opinions) states “INCOMING!!”.

While in London on other business last week (Linked Media as it happened) I also got together with a couple of the US Podshow guys plus the gold-emblazened shirted Adam Curry. I had little foreknowledge of what they wanted to discuss until I got in there and sat down. The details of the discussion will remain confidential until relevant of course, but they surrounded questions about my activities within the UK podcast space and whether/how they might be synchronous, or otherwise, with Podshow’s plans here.

Before you get thinking (if you are UK podcasting related of course, otherwise I doubt you care and you might want to skip the rest of this entirely), the discussion did not venture into the use of Britcaster.com as a commodity or as a tool of the ‘evil Podshow empire’. I am thankful for that as I believe Britcaster’s continuing strength would be in its independence as a hub for UK podcasters to exchange ideas, notions and whatever else. Though I will readily admit that the prominence of Britcaster has led not only Podshow to take notice of my online activity and measure a potential in what I’m doing now and what I have planned for the future, but others too. It has, indirectly, helped me get freelance work, helped me in teaming up for Audacious, opened the door for discussions with mobile networks (Linked Media). Although it never had any clear motive other than be a place UK podcasters can hang out, I would have been dumb not to have understood that prominence opens doors.

So what’s the deal?
Well it’s too early to be open about what is being discussed - yes, I know, I kept saying things like that about Linked Media at first too, but I’m not going to spout details that might not turn out to be correct in a few days. Scant information is better than misleading information, but Podshow have suggested a role.

This may take me in a very different, challenging, and unique direction. Challenge is important, real challenge that is, not challenge imposed by some authoritarian management structure just to hammer the grunts to make them feel more important. And this role would certainly challenge me, and do so in new ways.

Fallout
I expect there to be some negative reaction to all this. Cries of “sellout!”, and much worse terms, are likely to be passed around and perhaps Britcaster.com will lose one or two of its less positively-minded individuals due to perceived vicarious association. Thankfully, the positive views far outweigh the negative views and although there is likely a little turbulence ahead, recent tasters of that have toughened my skin a little and hopefully inoculated me against it. To be honest, I’ll likely be so busy dealing with those who are positive that I’ll have little time or concern for the handful of buzzing little negativity generators.

Interesting times ahead.

Tags: Business, Podcasting, Podcasts, Podshow
Posted in Business, Podcasting, Podshow |