Podcasting is taking further hold in Ireland with the news that the radio station Phantom FM has topped the Irish iTunes podcasting chart while a non-profit IT professionals group in Cork has also begun using the technology.
Podcasting allows web users to subscribe to audio content and download it when they want instead of having to listen when a radio show is broadcast live. Podcasts can either be recorded radio programmes made available after broadcast or a brand new show created by enthusiasts or amateurs. Shows on any subject can run from mere minutes to hours.
The Dublin-based radio station Phantom FM has claimed to have received a positive reaction to its dedicated podcast series, I-Spot, a 15-minute show that showcases new bands from around the country. According to Phantom FM, this specific content which began on 17 February complements the station’s general radio programming which has been available for podcast since December 2005. The content can be accessed at www.phantomfm.com.
“We are not simply repackaging previously broadcast material for download,” said Peter Vamos, Phantom FM programme director. “We are creating new programming solely for a podcast audience.”
The station said it has been compiling a library of “pod safe” music from Irish artists which it claims is the largest in the country. This music is recorded specifically for podcasting and is not subject to the normal licensing issues that govern recorded music rights.
Meanwhile it@cork, the Cork network for IT professionals, has launched a podcasting project featuring recorded interviews with thought leaders in the group’s 220 member companies. The project The Interviews, to be broadcast once a week, will involve senior management telling compelling stories around their businesses. The first interviews have already been published at http://blog.itcork.ie.
By Gordon Smith
