Mark, I was reading about how to be a "Featured Video Podcast" on iTunes the other day and (off the top of my head) the requirements were as follows:
- Show image must conform to iTunes' standard 300x300 pixels; - Must have an in depth description; - Must be properly categorized (ie. This or That = Entertainment, Kitkast = News, etc.); - Sexual content will not be featured (which probably means you and me, kiddo.) Btw, I'll be reviewing you on my show this week... This or That TV will finally have a place on Kitkast... ;) Kitka --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Cyr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I posted this recently in the new Apple 'podcast producer's Forum'. > I don't normally cross post my opinions but I thought folks here might > have something to say about it... > > http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=328594&tstart=0 > > I am a producer of a video podcast that represents a completely > independent (no money) television show and the work of over 30 > volunteers. But, it seems that we are not the kind of video podcast > that Apple likes. And so we are trying to figure out what Apple does like. > > Our podcast: > "This or That!" America's Favorite Burlesque Game Show > Video blog: http://thisorthat-video.blogspot.com > Video blog feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThisOrThat-video > ITunes Podcast listing: > http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=74172010 > > We were thrilled to hear that Apple would add poddcasts to iTunes and > were one of the first podcasts listed back last June. We have been > posting in the mp4 file format (video ipod compatible) since June as well. > > We were also listed by mefeedia, an independent video blog directory, > aggregator, and web based player last spring. Mefeedia lists over 4300 > video blogs that you can subscribe to. > http://www.mefeedia.com/feeds/ > And we are listed on at least 20 other podcast directories that list > video podcasts, I use mefeedia as an example because they cater > exclusively to video podcasts. > > We have never been a featured anything in the iMusic Store and are > baffled by how Apple chooses what they like. Near the top of their Top > podcast list are French Maid TV, and Tiki Bar TV. Well, folks say you > need a little titillation to keep the Apple programers happy. But not > so, we are a burlesque show with plenty of salacious activities, > visual excitement, and an explicit warning, but this does not get us > onto any of Apple's prefered lists. > > Well you need to be popular Apple says (in their official FAQ listing > of what it takes to be a featured podcast). Well we are popular, just > not with Apple. On mefeedia, we are the 4th most popular video podcast > out of over 4300. But on Apples site we are below the noise floor. > (Its worth noting that the top 3 on mefeedia are not in Apples Top 100 > either). > > We have only 5 star reviews on Apple's site and no bad reviews (so > far) on mefeedia or Apple. > > As for Apples other technical requirements, we meet them all. > > Including the fact that our video podcast is "taking off". It is being > seen around the world, with a larger audience than we would ever have > achieved on public access TV or even as a regular web page. > > We realize that Apple has no reason to be fair about this, they are a > corporation attempting to make money after all. If fairness (or the > promotion of home produced podcasts) was the point, Apple would simply > rotate the "featured podcasts", say every week or so, so that all > decently produced podcasts would get a chance to be seen and heard. > > Apple does not seem to be in business to support or promote "home > grown" independent efforts like our own (and most of the podcast > community). They seem to have decided that the only way to make money > is to promote commercial products, like all those FOX podcasts, and > now the NBC and ABC television libraries. > > The Apple FAQ states, "In most cases, we avoid promotion of podcasts > that are themselves merely promotions for other media products, such > as films or albums." But that statement is at odds with what they do > feature. If they are going to make this kind of statement they need a > new category: "Featured non-profit podcasts". There are many of us who > have produced `other media products, such as films and albums' and TV > shows that have had little success in other forms, but when they are > translated into podcasts, folks start listening and watching. > > It seems this statement, "we avoid promotion of podcasts that are > themselves merely promotions for other media products, such as films > or albums", really means, "we avoid any content that might compete > with our revenue generating content". > > I realize that this may sound like sour grapes on my part, but we are > genuinely frustrated here. > I would love to hear other independant podcast producers tell me I am > wrong. > > Have a look at our podcast if you like. > Let me know if you have had a similar or different experience. I would > love to be convinced that I have come to the wrong conclusion. > > Mark Cyr > "This or That" > America's Favorite Burlesque Game Show > http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=74172010 > > Or maybe we just shouldn't care about Apple anymore... > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
