Ad Based or Subscription Based?

I've been having neck issues for a few years now, and it stems largely from being in car accidents in December 2016, March 2017, and July 2019.  Now that I'm 40, I really need to start taking better care of myself.  This week I saw a neck therapist and this month I've returned to physical therapy.  Now, I've ordered an ergonomic desk chair that will keep me sitting upright while recording and editing, and I've download an app that reminds me to stand up every 30 minutes.  Take care of yourself - you only get one body.

Apple still subscription model for podcasts within Apple Plus.  Meanwhile on the video side, NBC's new Peacock platform has made the conscious decision to roll out the platform with a focus on Advertiser Supported Video On Demand (AVOD) vs Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD).  If you really want to go ad-free, you can drop $5 a month (if you're not with Comcast), but ads will be less than 5 minutes an hour (compared to 15 on broadcast and 8 on Hulu).  There are also caps to make sure the ads aren't competitive, with big advertisers State Farm, Target, Unilever, and Eli Lilly already signing on.  As I said last week, there may be a market for  an ad-based model as opposed to subscription, in audio as well.   I'll gladly sit through an ad or two if it keeps the content free.

https://adage.com/article/media/nbc-reveals-ad-strategy-and-initial-sponsors-peacock/2227926

https://www.adexchanger.com/tv-2/the-year-in-tv-a-major-shift-to-streaming/

Speaking of free... Spotify's Anchor platform is buying ads in podcasts - and the most popular advertiser....is Anchor.  Apparently they are ponying up the dough to try and boost their numbers. https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/21/22241066/spotify-anchor-sponsorships-ad-money-spend-podcasting

In terms of paid podcast hosts, PodNews is reporting that The Daily and The New York Times have switched from Art19 to Simplecast.  https://podnews.net/update/office-ladies-podcast-of-the-year

I'm happy to hear this, as Simplecast has long been my host of choice, including for this show.  I even have a referral link in the show here: http://bit.ly/simplecastjag

Told you about the protests outside a Niagara Falls podcast studio over hate speech - they've been evicted. https://podcastbusinessjournal.com/podcast-company-gets-evicted/

A study from Westwood One and Magellan AI shows podcast advertising bounced back strong in Q3 last year, after an initial pandemic dip. https://www.westwoodone.com/2021/01/25/westwood-one-magellan-ai-podcast-advertising-analysis-shows-podcasts-are-pandemic-proof-after-modest-dip-in-april-ad-volumes-roar-back-in-q3-2020/

Speaking of Magellan AI, they've got their top 15 podcast advertisers for December.  Headspace and  BetterHelp were #6 and #1 respectively.  This tells me two things.  1) We could all use some talk therapy after the events of the last year, and 2) maybe the stigma around it is finally starting to ebb away. https://www.magellan.ai/blog-posts/december-2020-top-spenders-movers-and-shakers

One of the biggest questions potential clients ask me is about making money from your podcast.  Well, it can be done, and one of my podcast mentors, Stacey Simms in Charlotte, North Carolina, has a free quiz to see if you're ready to cash in.  You can find it here:  http://www.bitly.com/podcastmoneyquiz

Finally, I'm thrilled to announce that Steve Stewart and the Podcast Editor's Club have asked me to do a short presentation on Adobe Audition as a workspace to edit podcasts.  I'll be doing that at Podfest Global in early March. You can sign up here: http://bit.ly/podfest2021jag

Find JAG on the web: https://jagindetroit.com/

Find jag on social media @JAGinDetroit or online at JAGinDetroit.com