I would like to start this post with an apology. I did that thing where you write a question as a head line just to make people panic a bit and then click on a link. I know that you saw “An End To Podcasting As We Know It At Simply Syndicated?” and then came to this story under the impression that we might be stopping podcasting or something. We aren’t, at least not that I know of. That said I’m here to talk to you about an end to podcasting as we know it at Simply Syndicated so I don’t feel too bad about the head line.

Just short of five years ago we started making Movies You Should See. It was a very different set up in those days I can tell you. There were certainly fewer podcasts around. It seems like there are just so many these days. When we started we didn’t really know what was going to happen or what the future would hold. We just knew that we were making this show every week and people were listening to it. It wasn’t long before other shows started. Make It So was next I think, then The Bollocks Show, it’s all a bit of a blur after that. As all of this was going on we still didn’t know what was going to happen in the future so we kept on making all these shows week after week, for what was beginning to feel like forever.

Of all the shows that Simply Syndicated have ever produced only two have had an official last episode. Some have faded away to nothing for various reasons, but very few of them come to an end. We just make them week in week out, FOR EVER. Are you beginning to see a problem here? It’s time to get realistic and start thinking about the future. Are we really going to make Movies You Should See or The Definitive Word for ever? Of course not, that’s a ridiculous thing to suggest. We took a break from doing Make It So for a while, but we came back a bit more ready to do the show. Obviously we could be tighter but hey, if it was a problem you wouldn’t be listening. The point is that the break did us good (as is this break we seem to be in at the moment due to various logistical problems).

It’s not just us that could do with a break sometimes, it’s listeners too. From a listeners point of view I can see two problems:

1. There aren’t many good new podcasts

2. You’re getting bored of the same shows you’ve been listening to for years

To answer these questions on at a time:

1. It really is a problem that there isn’t a good way to find good shows. Just like anything in the world 98% of podcasts are terrible and a waste of time. That isn’t to say that these shows don’t have a right to exist, it’s just that we could do with a way of wading through them. Luckily there are a few ways of finding good shows. Generally you can assume that shows made by people who make other shows you like will be good for you. If you like Movies You Should See there’s a good chance that you’ll like at least one of the other shows we make. So if you check out iTunes’ Featured Provider section you’ll find some good stuff. But here’s the problem. The people who make all those good shows that have been running for years are all tied up making those shows. The selection of good shows made by good networks hasn’t really changed much for the last few years. We have limited time and resources and we put them into making the same shows week after week for years.

2. Of course you’re bored. Why wouldn’t you be. I mean, I love Star Trek but the thought of watching it week after week for the rest of my life doesn’t sound like too much fun. It’s a big iPod you’ve got there and it would be nice to fill it with a variety of stuff. As podcasters we’ve done our best to give you a shows on a wide range of topics. But it’s not like we’re covering everything and besides, wouldn’t it be nice to mix it up a bit? Can’t do that though, we’re busy making Movies You Should See.

I think it’s clear we all have a problem. We’re all kind of podfading. You want new stuff that we aren’t catering for. We sometimes struggle to go on making stuff. Let’s face it, there isn’t much in the way of excitement in podcasting any more. It isn’t even really podcasting, it’s online media. I feel like we’ve all settled into a rutt, and I’m including every other network in that too.

With all that in mind we can agree that this wouldn’t be much of a blog post if I didn’t propose some sort of solution to the problem. I want to rock the boat a bit and do something different. Something to bring back the excitement back. It’s important to note that it has to be done with the same resources that we’ve got now and it can’t come with too much of a work load increase.

My solution is this. We make shows in series, or seasons depending on how you want to look at it. Rather than make Movies You Should See every week for ever, we do a 24 week run and then take a break with a Christmas Special in the middle. Something like that. Then, when we’re not making Movies You Should See, we make something else. I’m not talking about reducing the amount of production, I’m talking about frequently changing what that production is.

Just think about some of the advantages this brings. We don’t get bored making the same thing seemingly for ever. We have a finite number of shows to produce so we can carefully plan and prepare for each one. We can make arrangements for things in advance. You get a far better variety of shows to listen to. We get the opportunity to sell old seasons of our shows too. When you think about it, it’s the TV model of production. Make a season, have some time off while you make something else, release the DVD, then come back for the next season.

It also gives us the opportunity to assess if a show should come back for a new season. That way we won’t have things drag on like The Bollocks Show did. If I ever had to decided whether or not to renew it for another series it would have ended a year or two ago.

Now I’m not saying that this is going to happen to every show we make tomorrow. I’m just presenting to you as an idea, a plan for the near future. Of course it wouldn’t suit all shows, SHaFT for example is far more of a radio style show and can run week after week. Also I’m only talking about shows that Simply Syndicated produces in house. It’s not for me to dictate how other people should run their shows.

I’d really like to know what you all think. The way I feel right now indicates this is probably going to happen unless there’s great outcry at the idea. If you want to say something, now is the time.

  • Share/Bookmark