The Paracast Lands July 11, 2010!

[Gene Steinberg]

You provide a great show for free what's waiting a few minutes for those who listen live? When you download the show, by way of the archives. You can skip past the commercials anyway, too much complaining over nothing if you ask me.

Remember, the Fast Forward control is rocket science.

 

[Cybernia]

No, I understand. That's why I said "good for you, bad for me." I have come to loathe ads. I can't even stand the "underwriting" announcements on PBS and NPR. I'm not angry about it. Just bummed. I know you gotta do what you gotta do. When I heard the first break last night, I said to myself, "Uh, oh." One of the first things that attracted me to podcasts was the lack of ads. I knew I could listen without any annoying breaks, or if there were, they were usually promos for the podcast or some other podcast.

I'll probably relent and start listening again, since I've been listening for so long I'll probably miss it. It would be nice if you could ditch the ads for the download. I listen to a few podcasts where they do that.


Gotta run. I'm in the middle of downloading all these torrents. Not sure what they all are, but I don't have to pay for them, so. I'm downloading them. ;-)

 

[Gene Steinberg]

No, I understand. That's why I said "good for you, bad for me." I have come to loathe ads. I can't even stand the "underwriting" announcements on PBS and NPR. I'm not angry about it. Just bummed. I know you gotta do what you gotta do. When I heard the first break last night, I said to myself, "Uh, oh." One of the first things that attracted me to podcasts was the lack of ads. I knew I could listen without any annoying breaks, or if there were, they were usually promos for the podcast or some other podcast.

I'll probably relent and start listening again, since I've been listening for so long I'll probably miss it. It would be nice if you could ditch the ads for the download. I listen to a few podcasts where they do that.


Gotta run. I'm in the middle of downloading all these torrents. Not sure what they all are, but I don't have to pay for them, so. I'm downloading them. ;-)

Just so you know, we are paid for some of those ads based on download count. And we are contractually obligated to carry the network's ads as well, so all I can suggest is Fast Forward. The network clock (schedule) we follow is standard in the industry. Pretty much all major talk shows on commercial radio time out just as we do. And it used to be worse.

I realized taking this approach might produce some criticisms about ad content, but terrestrial radio also allows us to reach a whole lot more people who deserve a serious approach to the paranormal. When you consider the benefits, the addition of extra ads is a small price to pay in terms of convenience.

 

[Cybernia]

All I did was express my bummed outness at the new ads. I understand that Gene has to do what he has to do to make it viable, which is why I said, as I noted to Paul, "good for you, bad for me."

But now that I'm responding to this message, I'll say what I think about the old style radio model that gene has gone for. It's fast becoming an obsolete model as we have seen with newspapers and other print media. The new generation of internet kids have grown up on "free" and any content provider is going to have to adapt to that new world. They're going to have to figure out a way to generate revenue utilizing a new business model which basically gives the product away for "free."

Honestly, I have no clue what that might be since I'm not in the business of podcasting.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

All I did was express my bummed outness at the new ads. I understand that Gene has to do what he has to do to make it viable, which is why I said, as I noted to Paul, "good for you, bad for me."

But now that I'm responding to this message, I'll say what I think about the old style radio model that gene has gone for. It's fast becoming an obsolete model as we have seen with newspapers and other print media. The new generation of internet kids have grown up on "free" and any content provider is going to have to adapt to that new world. They're going to have to figure out a way to generate revenue utilizing a new business model which basically gives the product away for "free."

Honestly, I have no clue what that might be since I'm not in the business of podcasting.

The reason I'm not letting this slide is that you deserve a forthright response.

So let's talk about the online world, the legal one. Online TV shows such as those from Hulu contain exactly the same ads you see on broadcast or cable TV. There is no difference. Even the premium version will, in part, be ad supported. You want to pay more, you get your shows without the ads, such as the ones you purchase from iTunes and other vendors.

Our approach is to give the show away, and let the advertisers pay all the bills.

Bear in mind that most podcasts are strictly hobbies, created by people who want to "play radio broadcaster," and they don't have the serious intent of informing people and providing a complete online environment for listeners. It costs money to do all this and the only other way to cover our costs is to charge for the shows — something we just won't do. Banner advertising is all right, but it doesn't work for an advertiser unless they use it as a value-added feature that goes along with the radio ads.

 

[jpw.in.wi]

What an exciting new phase in the Paracast's life! I just appreciate so much that all of the past programs are still made available to us, completely free, even after this latest big step. Gene could easily charge a meager monthly fee for "total access" to Paracast programs and forums, as most other talk shows do once they've become successful--and Gene would be totally justified in doing that, too.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Gene--holster commercials and all

Can't wait to see where the program goes from here!

(By the way, I think Mr. O'Brien briefly mentioned the cases of stigmatists. Would you be open to having guests discuss those and other difficult-to-explain religious occurrences, such as Lourdes, Fatima, the tilma of Juan Diego, astonishing Eucharistic phenomenon such as the one at Lanciano, Italy, etc.? If you're interested, I could send you links to information on various incidents, as well as potential guests.)

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Thank you. Being on the network, of course, is just a first step. For us to stay there, we need to continue to add stations. That's where you listeners come in. We'd like you to contact your local stations in the U.S. and urge them to carry the show. Just forward them to the Genesis Communications Network - Listen Live site to check satellite settings and so on and so forth. Or have them get in touch with me, and I'll help to set up things with the people at GCN.

Getting the show overseas, aside from our online versions, would probably require a second network deal.

 

[CapnG]

Congrats Gene! Here's hoping the Paracast just gets bigger and better!

I enjoyed the show, round tables are always fun. I have to say I was also a bit taken aback by the commercials but I soon mastered the rubix cube that is the fast forward button.

I have to say I was... dismayed by the "OMG!! MARSHALL LAW IS COMING!!!" ad. I sat there thinking: "This isn't serious... they can't be serious... are people actually hearing this and thinking "Holy shit, I better get on that!"? Really? This ad isn't some sort of Alex Jones/George Green/David Icke satire?" That and a few of the other ads are the most paranoid, delusional bullshit I've ever heard. In a way I'm kinda sorry you have to share your air time with them. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand "paying the bills" and so forth it's just... wow.

 

[cottonzway]

I've heard that ad before and some of the others on GCN that are like that. I dislike them bigtime because if you are into some of that stuff it uses so much hyperbole that it really insults the target audience that they are designed for. Not everyone who is a Libertarian or Constitutionalist is waiting in a bunker for the CIA to come and get them. It's pretty insulting type of advertising IMO.

I will listen to the show tonight and I am really happy for Gene along with Paul, Chris, and Greg. I think the show will get do really well on GCN.

As for people bitching, seriously, fast forward. It's not that hard. You are getting this for FREE!

 

[Paul Kimball]

All I did was express my bummed outness at the new ads. I understand that Gene has to do what he has to do to make it viable, which is why I said, as I noted to Paul, "good for you, bad for me."

But now that I'm responding to this message, I'll say what I think about the old style radio model that gene has gone for. It's fast becoming an obsolete model as we have seen with newspapers and other print media. The new generation of internet kids have grown up on "free" and any content provider is going to have to adapt to that new world. They're going to have to figure out a way to generate revenue utilizing a new business model which basically gives the product away for "free."

Honestly, I have no clue what that might be since I'm not in the business of podcasting.

I have news for you - that business model doesn't exist. Anyone who gives anything away for free is merely using it as a loss-leader to sell something else.

This whole generation of kids thinks that they're changing the world. Guess what? All kids think they're going to change the world. What they really want is to devalue the work of others, so that they have more disposable income for themselves. It's the height of selfishness... but that's the current generation for you.

I have a feeling that they're in for a very, very rude awakening.

---------- Post added at 01:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 AM ----------

Congrats Gene! Here's hoping the Paracast just gets bigger and better!

I enjoyed the show, round tables are always fun. I have to say I was also a bit taken aback by the commercials but I soon mastered the rubix cube that is the fast forward button.

I have to say I was... dismayed by the "OMG!! MARSHALL LAW IS COMING!!!" ad. I sat there thinking: "This isn't serious... they can't be serious... are people actually hearing this and thinking "Holy shit, I better get on that!"? Really? This ad isn't some sort of Alex Jones/George Green/David Icke satire?" That and a few of the other ads are the most paranoid, delusional bullshit I've ever heard. In a way I'm kinda sorry you have to share your air time with them. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand "paying the bills" and so forth it's just... wow.

Those ads make me cringe, no question. But so do ads for oil companies on television that play between my documentaries or films. It is what it is.

 

[paraschtick]

I have to say I was... dismayed by the "OMG!! MARSHALL LAW IS COMING!!!" ad. I sat there thinking: "This isn't serious... they can't be serious... are people actually hearing this and thinking "Holy shit, I better get on that!"? Really? This ad isn't some sort of Alex Jones/George Green/David Icke satire?" That and a few of the other ads are the most paranoid, delusional bullshit I've ever heard. In a way I'm kinda sorry you have to share your air time with them. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand "paying the bills" and so forth it's just... wow.

Nope all the GCN ads are all for real. They can tell the future. They are psychic. We are all going to die ... that is if we don't stock up on gold, silver and non-perishable food items ... all bought, surprisingly from people you can hear on GCN .

GCN if you don't know is one of the many homes of Alex Jones. It used to be the home to Jeff Rense as well before they had a falling out (whether it was a true falling out or not or whether it was one just to pull in the crowds is still to be seen). Its where I came across AJ before I realised he was a fearmongerererer and was just interested in selling videos. I listened to him for no more than 2 weeks (it took me this long to figure out what the heck he was saying).

[Some say that GCN is associated with reknown arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi but I have no evidence for this except to say that apparently he owns a number of companies with the word Genesis in the title . But it is fairly well known that the owner of GCN, Ted Anderson isn't interested in any truth of any kind ... just the money. Oh and Dr Bill Deagle, of the Nutrimedical Report also on GCN is a con-man and a de-frocked Doctor ... oh ... and a liar ... and apparently knows all about them underground bases with aliens and all that. Oh ... and Dr Stan Monteith ... of Radio Liberty ... also on GCN ... is also something of a snake oil salesman as well ... so ... need I go on?? .]

 

[CapnG]

Oh and Dr Bill Deagle, of the Nutrimedical Report also on GCN is a con-man and a de-frocked Doctor ... oh ... and a liar ... and apparently knows all about them underground bases with aliens and all that.

THAT was the name I was trying to remember in my write up but I blanked and threw in Icke instead. You forgot to mention he fancies himself some sort of spiritual leader and his message in that department boils down to "If you don't absolutely subscribe to my particular (and somehow simultaneously ridiculously broad yet excessivley narrow) view of scripture then you will deservedly DIE in the coming apocalypse".

I've got exactly two words for people like that and trust me, those two words aren't "ice cream".

 

[Cybernia]

So let's talk about the online world, the legal one. Online TV shows such as those from Hulu contain exactly the same ads you see on broadcast or cable TV. There is no difference. Even the premium version will, in part, be ad supported. You want to pay more, you get your shows without the ads, such as the ones you purchase from iTunes and other vendors.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I have only used Hulu a few times and never for new shows, but as far as the old shows goes, they have an ads in the beginning middle and end. But you're talking about a different animal. Hulu and others don't create content, they "re-broadcast" it.

Our approach is to give the show away, and let the advertisers pay all the bills.

And you can do that without having the shows interrupted by ads.

Bear in mind that most podcasts are strictly hobbies, created by people who want to "play radio broadcaster," and they don't have the serious intent of informing people and providing a complete online environment for listeners. It costs money to do all this and the only other way to cover our costs is to charge for the shows — something we just won't do. Banner advertising is all right, but it doesn't work for an advertiser unless they use it as a value-added feature that goes along with the radio ads.

Again, it goes beyond banner ads. You said it yourself "value-added." For example, the podcast Mysterious Universe has a free podcast and another for subscribers. That's one of the ideas. It's that you give people something extra which they pay for. The site TechDirt makes a profit and they don't charge for their main content. It can be done. You just have to look outside old ways. Even the hobbyists look for new ways to finance their podcasts. I don't know if he does it for a living, but that guy Jim Harold of Paranormal Podcast uses Amazon as a way to generate income as well as asking for donations.

AND, as they used to say in the old days, location, location, location. Today it's content, content, content. I don't think having just a forum is enough. You need to generate unique content to get people coming back to the site for something besides flapping their gums like I'm doing.

Don't take any of this as a slight, but it took me a while to come around to seeing this new way of thinking. I couldn't figure out how it could work, but people are doing it. Musicians are doing it. They're giving their songs away for free but providing value added content that people pay for. Being fans, they are more than willing to cough up the dough.

Now and i know none of this will make you go, "Oh geez, he's right! I'll change my whole model." I'm just pitching in my two cents

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Thanks for the comments. I'm always interested in sensible revenue streams. But I don't want to force listeners to pay for content. Voluntary donations are one thing. Maybe a premium feature for special content. But ad supported is the best compromise right now.

 

[Cybernia]

I have news for you - that business model doesn't exist. Anyone who gives anything away for free is merely using it as a loss-leader to sell something else.

This whole generation of kids thinks that they're changing the world. Guess what? All kids think they're going to change the world. What they really want is to devalue the work of others, so that they have more disposable income for themselves. It's the height of selfishness... but that's the current generation for you.

I have a feeling that they're in for a very, very rude awakening.


---------- Post added at 01:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 AM ----------



Those ads make me cringe, no question. But so do ads for oil companies on television that play between my documentaries or films. It is what it is.

The fact is they are changing the world or at least the business model of the world. And it's not just kids. People have become accustomed to free on the internet. Look what's happening to newspapers. But those who have thought out of the box are either on their way to making money or actually are making a profit. As I mentioned in the message to Gene, TechDirt is a good example. Look at the innovative ways bands are finding to come up with money to make their music. The old business models are dying. I think it's a mistake to hitch your wagon to a dying medium. It may help in the short run, but long term you have look beyond the old models.

How do kids find out about new music, etc these days? It sure isn't the old media. Twitter, Facebook, et al are the way these kids are finding out about new culture. As much as I felt the same way as you about illegal downloads, I've come around to thinking that's the best marketing. Someone downloads a couple of your songs, loves them and you wind up with a sold ticket when you play in concert. And they might buy a t-shirt or even a CD. It's a fact that the money comes from live performances more than records.

Finally, I think it's even more of a mistake to go with a company where it looks to me like the bulk of their shows and advertisers are wackos. Guilt by association

 

[Paul Kimball]

The fact is they are changing the world or at least the business model of the world. And it's not just kids. People have become accustomed to free on the internet. Look what's happening to newspapers. But those who have thought out of the box are either on their way to making money or actually are making a profit. As I mentioned in the message to Gene, TechDirt is a good example. Look at the innovative ways bands are finding to come up with money to make their music. The old business models are dying. I think it's a mistake to hitch your wagon to a dying medium. It may help in the short run, but long term you have look beyond the old models.

How do kids find out about new music, etc these days? It sure isn't the old media. Twitter, Facebook, et al are the way these kids are finding out about new culture. As much as I felt the same way as you about illegal downloads, I've come around to thinking that's the best marketing. Someone downloads a couple of your songs, loves them and you wind up with a sold ticket when you play in concert. And they might buy a t-shirt or even a CD. It's a fact that the money comes from live performances more than records.

Finally, I think it's even more of a mistake to go with a company where it looks to me like the bulk of their shows and advertisers are wackos. Guilt by association

Anyone in the entertainment industry looks to pursue new business opportunities, and find new ways to monetize their product. But what you are talking about, and defending, is theft, plain and simple. If I walk into your house and steal your television, or your jewelry, you would call the police, and rightly so. And yet when someone steals intellectual property by way of illegal downloading, and file transfers, the owners of that property are just supposed to go with the flow and call it a new business model?

Like I said, some folks are in for a very rude awakening.

 

[Cybernia]

Anyone in the entertainment industry looks to pursue new business opportunities, and find new ways to monetize their product. But what you are talking about, and defending, is theft, plain and simple. If I walk into your house and steal your television, or your jewelry, you would call the police, and rightly so. And yet when someone steals intellectual property by way of illegal downloading, and file transfers, the owners of that property are just supposed to go with the flow and call it a new business model?

Like I said, some folks are in for a very rude awakening.

Yeah, the record companies et al. I used to agree 100% with you until I realized how the playing field is not level. Probably the best example of how you don't lose money by giving your IP away is The Dead, way before the digital age. They used to allow fans to plug into the soundboard and record their shows. They were one of biggest moneymakers in the biz despite never having a number one hit.

I don't download but if I really wanted something that wasn't readily available I would do so just because it's not the creator not losing money, but the soul sucking companies. Steve Albini wrote a great piece on what criminals they are. They are stealing from the artist more than some kid in his mom's basement. I have a close friend who is/was in a seminal 70s punk band. They haven't received one red cent in royalties on their records even though they have been in print since the 70s.

And yes, the artist should go along with that model. Make it work for them. The cat is out of the bag and there's no putting him back in. When they shut down one site another one pops up to take it's place.

And read this. This should interest you as a filmmaker. It's an independent filmmaker who embraced the free download concept. "For me, the torrent leak was ultimately “free advertising”, and I am the only truly independent documentary filmmaker I know making his money back this year. "

Tell me what you think of this. The aforementioned director raised this interesting point. If someone buys/rents a DVD and invites friends over to watch it, is the filmmaker losing money?

Finally, I think too many people make the assumption that if something wasn't available for free, people would go out and buy it. BZZZZZ. Wrong. Unless someone was a real true blue fan, they wouldn't go out and buy it. I remember back when I got my first "IBM clone" computer, I couldn't afford software, so I would get it from friends. If I wanted something that I didn't absolutely need and no one had it, I would go without. I wouldn't go out and buy it.

And speaking of free software...how do the people who create open source software make money since they give it away for free? The only proprietary software on my computer is Dreamweaver. Everything else is open source or free versions of proprietary software. In fact, the software that runs the internets is Linux, open source.