UK Podcast voids - don’t know what to podcast? Here’s a big list!
Published by on September 2nd, 2006
In my current activity I’m spending a great deal of time seeking out and talking to podcast talent. I once said that the UK was filled with greater diversity in its podcasting community, but now I’m not so sure.
There are holes here, big holes in some genres which, worldwide, are tried and tested for the potential for big audiences. The take-up of new listeners to podcasting is, according to survey sources earlier this year, about to surge, yet the number of new independent podcasts appearing is on a definite lull right now.
If you fancy putting together a podcast, here are specific areas where there is very little competition in the UK for niche audiences (in no particular order).
Sport
Football and F1 are covered, but where are Cricket, Rugby, Rallying, Tennis? All of these, if put together well, have excellent potential to draw a broad and loyal audience.
Tech
Yes, oddly enough, the UK is very weak on the tech podcast front. Perhaps this might be down to the majority of people taking up the gauntlet of creating content are starting from a non-tech background and are more immediately drawn to some form of entertainment. Who knows. The Mac space is covered, but where are the general tech and geek casts, Microsoft, computer advice, gadget reviews, even gaming? All these are proven audience draws in the states.
Lifestyle/Parenting
Where’s the UK equivalent to the extremely successful Mommycast? There’s a whole wealth of subjects here which are simply not covered by independent podcasts, and very little by commercial ones.
Health & Fitness
We are apparently rapidly catching up with the US on the size of our butts, so fitness and health are areas we should have covered.
Finance
There have to be some money experts out there who want to reach out and give advice to the growing millions buried in growing debt. The finance area could spark a wealth of general and specific niche information podcasts which have potential for a very broad audience.
Those five are the obvious ones. If I think harder and compare to the areas which have the greatest audience draw in the US, then this list would be much longer.
These niches not only have the potential to attract large audiences, they also have the potential to attract advertisers - if creating some from of income from it is your thing. That means everyone can be happy!
So if you want to podcast but cannot think of a subject, then there’s likely something in here which you cold handle with a little effort. Producing Finance show may not seem as cool and trendy as an underground alternative music show, but it has far less competition and far greater chance of attracting a big audience.
I’m currently on the search for people who have some knowledge in any of the areas mentioned above. If the technical skills are not there, then it’s a simple task of pairing someone with a producer to help pull everything together. It ain’t rocket science!
Technorati Tags: content, niche, tech, finance, lifestyle, sport, podcast
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8 Responses to “UK Podcast voids - don’t know what to podcast? Here’s a big list!”
September 3rd, 2006 at 8:15 am
Set me up with the means to get my hands on gadgets and I’ll do a review podcast. For real.
September 3rd, 2006 at 3:12 pm
I think many people would say the same thing.
Make some phone calls, do some persuasion and your mailbox will be filled with goodies; it’s all a matter of talking to the companies who make the stuff… nowt stopping anyone from getting on and doing that
September 3rd, 2006 at 9:49 pm
I am desperate to hear from ANYONE with a rugby cast - absolutely no-one is doing anything!
I’ll definitely be blogging and talking about the world cup (Rugby) next year, but I’m not planning to do anything until then.
As for parenting - sounds a good ‘un if done properly.
September 4th, 2006 at 12:19 am
I have looked into a number of sport’s podcast’s and have to admit am not sure the audience is there, regarding sports podcast’s they tend to have a large US audience, meaning Cricket etc and other uk sports may not work.
Regarding Rugby if i understood the sport i may have started one.
September 4th, 2006 at 11:36 am
I wonder if part of the problem with sport podcast audiences in the UK is down to the competition and establishing credibility. Can an independent podcast comete with reliable, professional sources of sport info and opinion? I think it can if it attempts to add something new and unique to the mix.
I was chatting to Brad Gibson (MacFormat podcast) the other night and he suggested that a successful sport podcast may need to tap into an existing journalistic resource - say a dedicated sport magazine, or large fanzine/club - on top of which is placed a charismatic, knowledgible and, very importantly, contentious host to get everyone talking and voicing opinions. He may be on to something there.
September 4th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
The Old Firm Podcast, which is about two Glasgow football clubs, I’ve been working on (but have lapsed recently) was getting downloads of over 500 per episode with very little promotion or marketing, cross or otherwise, from me. I think the key is to be a niche as possible, zeroing into specific clubs rather than focusing so broadly across a whole sport.
September 4th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I’m keen to participate in a tech/gadgets/TWIT style podcast. Any takers?
September 8th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
> I’m keen to participate in a tech/gadgets/TWIT style podcast. Any takers?
Any responses, Paul?