Are you still skeptical about the whole podcasting thing we’ve been championing since early this year? Let’s see how skeptical you may be after some new information.
For example, the Apple Ipod is probably the most well know brand and last I saw over 28 million of them have been sold. But that doesn’t take into consideration all the other brands out there that have been aggressively competing with them or the fact that most pda’s and even some mobile phones now allow you to download audio to them.
How about a recent survey by Bridge Ratings: The study estimates that 4.8 million persons have at some time during 2005 downloaded a podcast from either a radio station or other source. iTunes was referrenced as the most often accessed portal for podcast downloads. This 4.8 million estimate is up from 820,000 podcast users in 2004. . . . By 2010 podcast audience growth is expected to reach a conservative 45 million users who will have ever listened to a podcast. Aggressive estimates place this number closer to 75 million by this date.
Do you read the Sunday newspaper? Did you see this week’s Parade Magazine? If not, you can find the archive when they post it on November 28. In this week’s edition they have an article titled “Now, Hear This.” The subtitle says “Podcasting may change the way you think about radio.” They quote the “Podfather,” Adam Curry, former MTV VJ, “Podcasting is not appointment-based listening. It’s there for you when you want it.” That’s one of the keys to this whole podcasting thing.
Okay, but what about farmers? Are you one of those people who for some reason can’t accept the fact that farmers aren’t much different than the general public? Do you think they don’t know how to use computers or that they don’t have anything but slow dialup? Get with the program folks! Here’s a farmer comment from a loyal AgWired fan and ZimmCast (my podcast) subscriber: “The only thing better than Sirius, is listening to the Zimmcast and other farm commentary podcasts on my Ipaq. Farmers spending so many hours on the tractors should be jumping on the Ipod bandwagon in a big way. Especially in Canada now that the NHL is back! Keep up the great work.”
Ag companies and ag groups are finding out that they can create their own programming and target a very niche audience of customers and members with it. How about you? Need some help getting started? Need someone to produce your programming because you don’t have time? Give us a call, eh?
Meet 
The 
The 
An overview of the 
There’s a new IT Director at the 
Farm broadcasters were busy last week at their convention. 
More 
Ginger Price came to Osborn & Barr two years ago as an account coordinator and took a fast track to her most recent promotion as senior account executive to lead the Michelin account, American Soil Technologies and Solutia. Ginger also tackles the pursuit of new opportunities in the agricultural and turf markets.
Kari Michalek joined the agency 18 months ago as a computer graphics specialist and was recently named production project manager. Kari has extensive background in production and graphic design with six years of experience in production management.
Three newly elected board members for the