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Podcasting, as an industry, has established itself as one of totally free content, Ricky Gervais aside. And yet, Dan Klass of the sublime The Bitterest Pill made the announcement this past weekend that he will be going to a paid-for subscription model because he’s not making any money and needs to support his kids.

If you loved something like this, but had to pay for it, would you set it free or fork over?

Is there a podcast you would pay for?

I’m up in the air. So far I’ve resisted paying for the Gervais show even though I fell in love with it back in the free days.

Tim Henson from Distorted View has found a nice happy medium in that he has his free show and the members site and all the extra content that his paying members get. It must be working out pretty well for him because he quit his job at the beginning of 2007.

Would I pay for podcasts? hm.. I dunno I doubt it. I mean it’s a lot like Cable. If I HAD to I would pay for a subscription service that gave me access to hundreds of top quality podcasts, but paying for ONE show? it depends how much and how much I love the show.

I second F13, a lot of uber-popular podcasts have introduced a separate subscription service with additional content.  What’s more there are other ways to make money, such as through merchandising or events (like KATG) or even sponsors.  Maybe this one dude just hasn’t put the effort needed to make some scrilla (ya, I said scrilla).  I am just guessing because I have never heard his show.

As for if I would pay for podcasts, can’t say for sure.  I don’t think I would have started listening to podcasts if I had to pay for them initially.  If I had to start paying for shows now, I think that there would be quite a few I would cut out of my line up and I would start putting more music on my MP3 player to fill the void.  I hope podcasts stay free cause that’s all part of the awesomeness.

So, on that note.......

GO TO http://www.paperbagradio.com AND BUY A HAT OR MAKE A DONATION!!!!!!! 

As a marketing ploy I’m going to start charging people to NOT listen to Cinema Diabolica

Felipe Thirteen - 23 January 2008 04:02 PM

As a marketing ploy I’m going to start charging people to NOT listen to Cinema Diabolica

That’s a great idea! Just not sure how you would regulate that.  But that should make you lots of money.  OOOohhh...SICK BURN!

haha...JK...you know I’z gots nuttin’ but luv fo’ ya!!  (how white am I that I actually add punctuation to my ghetto talk. DAMN FORMAL EDUCATION!!!!)

Love you too Tinkerbell!
X’s & O’s!