podcast

A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files that a user can download in order to listen. With the emphasis on audio and the spoken word, podcasting shares roots with traditional radio programming, but with a different distribution model, involving computer networks and stored files. Podcasting grew out of the advent of portable media players such as Apple's iPod where it became convenient to carry around a queue of preferred audio content (other than music) to consume during personal dead time, such as commuting to and from work. Software such as iTunes provided a convenient and integrated way to manage a personal consumption queue across many podcast sources and potential playback devices.
Usually a podcast series features one or more recurring hosts engaged in discussion about some topic or current event. In highly produced podcasts, the discussion may be carefully scripted, almost to the point of being short oral essays, combined with elaborate and artistic sound production, with thematic concerns ranging from science reporting to slice-of-life journalism.
Another common format is the talking head interview. In the simplest form, each episode features an audio interview between the recurring host and one special guest, anchored around one explicit subject matter, though the discussion might be free ranging. The sound production might be limited to a few seconds of introductory theme music, perhaps an introductory preamble to introduce the show or the guest, and then the interview with no other audio component beyond recorded speech. These are often exploratory podcasts based on expertise or opinion. More elaborate examples might involve multiple hosts or multiple guests; there may be a live audience; the hosts and guests may be constituted as a panel with a moderator; there might be question period at the end, or other forms of audience interaction.

Podcasting often uses a subscription model, whereby new episodes automatically download via web syndication to a user's own local computer, mobile application, or portable media player. The files distributed are in audio format, but may sometimes include other file formats such as PDF or EPUB. Videos shared following a podcast model are sometimes called video podcasts, vodcasts or vlogs. In the subscription model, it is common for the show to have a regular release schedule, such as a weekly episode.
Playback may involve the use of a streaming service, a smartphone application, or locally downloaded files using a standard audio playback application. An ability to change playback speed, to rewind, or skip around at random is often supported. If a video player is to play back an episode produced as audio content, there may be a static visual image or a slide show of thematic images; it may be possible to view closed captioning (CC) in the video frame. Many podcast series provide an associated web site with links and show notes, guest biographies, transcripts, additional resources, additional commentary, and even a community forum dedicated to discussing the show's content.
Commonly the cost to the consumer is low, with many podcasts being free to download, and possibly also free of commercial advertisements. Motivations of the podcaster producer (often the podcast host) may include any combination of expressing a personal passion, increasing professional visibility, entering into a social network of influencers and influential ideas, cultivating a community of like-minded viewership, and pedagogical or ideological outreach (possibly under philanthropic support, either identified or unidentified). In other cases the podcast is explicitly a business venture supported by some combination of a paid subscription model, advertising, and product after sales.
Because so much podcast content has become available at low cost to the podcast consumer, podcasting is often classified as a disruptive media, adverse to the maintenance of traditional revenue models. Long-running podcasts with a substantial back catalogue are amenable to binge consumption. Extremely popular podcast hosts may become Twitter celebrities in their own right.

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