McDevitt/Early Off the Ball had very loyal listeners

Mr Pseudonym

I'm being a little bit cheeky in posting what ought really to be a comment in the existing thread, but my post is likely to be quickly swallowed up as it's quite an active one.

JNLRs showed that the McDevitt/Early Off the Ball team had a listenership of between forty and fifty thousand, before they resigned.

They now present a podcast, hosted by the Irish Times, called Second Captains.

On Soundcloud, consistently, slightly above 20k listen to the Tuesday (Football) show, and slightly below 20k listen to the Thursday show. Excluding that a large number of people probably listen via iTunes, I'd say the guys are chuffed that they retained so large a chunk of their previous listener base (because I presume that the majority followed over from OTB). It must mean that they had one of the most loyal listenerships in all of Irish radio!

Any thoughts?

foxtrot101

The same people seem to have stayed loyal to the new OTB show as well though. 42,000 according to the last round of JNLR figures. I was expecting a bit of collapse, but it never happened. Unless a dramatic drop shows up when the new figures come out at the end of this week, which I doubt will happen at this stage.

Diabhal Beag

If they weren't getting more listeners on downloads than live they'd be having a big problem, especially considering they've no real sponsors or ads these days. That said getting the TV show a second series was a big success so you can definitely say they've had a better year.

Ol' Donie

I think I've only missed two or three Second Captains podcasts since they started. Wish they'd get back on live radio.

Don't listen to Off The Ball (or Off The Ball: The Chinese Democracy Tour, as I like to call it) at all since they left.

leggo

What they've done is phenomenal. Podcasts have taken off everywhere in the world, except for Ireland. The only podcasts that have any way decent listenerships until recently were already-popular radio shows regurgitating highlights of said shows, during which they probably plugged the podcast, which they needed to actively promote regularly to keep people subscribed.

For Second Captains to not only make a success of a standalone podcast over here, but make it the most downloaded podcast in the country AND retain close to, if not more, than their listeners on-air is incredible and a testament to the belief they had in themselves in leaving Newstalk. This could have so easily gone horribly wrong.

They've also introduced a large amount of people to the idea of podcasting and made it something feasible for publications like The Irish Times to invest in and get behind. This matters because podcasting (or whatever it evolves into eventually) is pretty much the future of talk radio. And that can only happen once people with money make it worthwhile for talented people to put effort into them.

Make no mistake about it, over time this will prove to be huge, and the lads were at the epicentre of it all over here.

foxtrot101

leggo wrote: »

Make no mistake about it, over time this will prove to be huge, and the lads were at the epicentre of it all over here.

For that to happen the Irish Times will have to monetise it more then just the adverts on the website page. I'm surprised they haven't managed to sell advertising spots on the podcasts yet, or at least get a sponsor like the football weekly has.

spank_inferno

foxtrot101 wrote: »

or at least get a sponsor like the football weekly has.

AC Jimbo mentions Jaffa cakes quite a lot.

leggo

foxtrot101 wrote: »

For that to happen the Irish Times will have to monetise it more then just the adverts on the website page. I'm surprised they haven't managed to sell advertising spots on the podcasts yet, or at least get a sponsor like the football weekly has.

Weren't they advertising Mazda (or another car company) just last week by way of an Irish Times event?

Either way, it's most definitely not a case of them not being able to find advertisers. With that listenership, you can get advertisers and sponsors, so it must be a case of them monetizing it some other way or being happy with the money made from page clicks that the lads bring.

Pb Eso

Having listened to nearly all the podcasts to date, I would point out that they have slowly started adding ads to the show in the past few weeks.
On one of the first podcasts (back last summer) had an ad for an insurance company, but from then until this month they haven't had any (that I've heard)
Recently they have had two.
One for a Irish times event sponsored by some car company and most recently one for a bank.
They're 30 second ads, one in each podcast.
I don't hav a clue how much they would be worth however, anyone any ideas?
Also there seems to be limited scope for putting ads into a podcast, they put them in inbetween segments but there are only 3 major segments in most shows.
That would limit it to two ads at most, or 4 if they put one in at the start and the end of each show.
I suppose they could put a number of ads into a "break" between segments, however when the listener has the option of skipping forward, would more than one or two ads be possible? Same with ads at the start and end, I personally tend to skip over the intro already, if there was an ad there I would defo skip it.

Other than ads or sponsorship of the program, is there many other options that other podcasts are using to generate some income?

leggo

Pb Eso wrote: »

Having listened to nearly all the podcasts to date, I would point out that they have slowly started adding ads to the show in the past few weeks.
On one of the first podcasts (back last summer) had an ad for an insurance company, but from then until this month they haven't had any (that I've heard)
Recently they have had two.
One for a Irish times event sponsored by some car company and most recently one for a bank.
They're 30 second ads, one in each podcast.
I don't hav a clue how much they would be worth however, anyone any ideas?
Also there seems to be limited scope for putting ads into a podcast, they put them in inbetween segments but there are only 3 major segments in most shows.
That would limit it to two ads at most, or 4 if they put one in at the start and the end of each show.
I suppose they could put a number of ads into a "break" between segments, however when the listener has the option of skipping forward, would more than one or two ads be possible? Same with ads at the start and end, I personally tend to skip over the intro already, if there was an ad there I would defo skip it.

Other than ads or sponsorship of the program, is there many other options that other podcasts are using to generate some income?

The model is simple and has been done for ages elsewhere: rather than selling individual ad slots, build a big listenership then sell a package deal to 1-2 exclusive sponsors for a higher overall price. It keeps the number of ads down, you can do spoken-word mentions of them too, and you don't need the same amount of ads as radio as podcasts are significantly cheaper to run.

Mr Pseudonym

Pb Eso wrote: »

Having listened to nearly all the podcasts to date, I would point out that they have slowly started adding ads to the show in the past few weeks.

One for a Irish times event sponsored by some car company...

Any chance you remember what podcast that was, or even a a date range in which it was?

Thanks

Pb Eso

in the last few weeks podcasts, but not this weeks ones.
I think it was an Irish times six nations rugby event - cant remember the car company.
Listen back to any of the podcasts last week or the week before, its in there after the first segment - round 20-30 mins in in all of them

ciaran76

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Any chance you remember what podcast that was, or even a a date range in which it was?

Thanks

I could have sworn last week either the Tues or Thurs football show had an advert for Mazda 3.
EDIT : The 23/01 Football podcast about 25mins in.

Mr Pseudonym

Pb Eso wrote: »

in the last few weeks podcasts, but not this weeks ones.
I think it was an Irish times six nations rugby event - cant remember the car company.
Listen back to any of the podcasts last week or the week before, its in there after the first segment - round 20-30 mins in in all of them

ciaran76 wrote: »

I could have sworn last week either the Tues or Thurs football show had an advert for Mazda 3.
EDIT : The 23/01 Football podcast about 25mins in.

Thanks for the effort, guys - really appreciate it. I was dreading have to skim through weeks of podcasts!

Expunge

I was dreading have to skim through weeks of podcasts!

And there is the problem.... skimming through weeks of podcasts to find one poxy ad. I've just been on the Second Captains page at irishtimes.com.
There are no ads on it. The Irish Times Music in the Classroom banner ad does not count.

The Irish Times Six nations Rugby event with Mazda hardly qualifies either as it's not about the podcast really.

It looks like it's not been monetized at all.

It's a nice thing for the IT to have, but these lads are at nothing much compared to what they walked out on.
That TV show will probably come and go and fizzle out one day,as most TV shows do.
They are a far superior team than the muck that's on Newstalk right now.
It's a hobby not a business at the moment.
They need to be on the radio every day.

leggo

That's probably no coincidence though, that it's not being fully monetized yet. Remember that ads can scare away listeners too. The Irish Times are no mugs, they probably have a specific figure they want for sponsorship and are holding out until they get that. Until then let the listenership build and keep listeners coming back without selling individual ads at Mickey Mouse prices. Advertisers are more than likely hesitant to move right now on podcasting, as it's an area they're not familiar with, but good figures won't go ignored forever.

Expunge

The Irish Times are no mugs

I'm not so sure about that. The IT continues to lose money. I think like any media organisation in the State, they need money in now from wherever they can get it.

Mr Pseudonym

Expunge wrote: »

I'm not so sure about that. The IT continues to lose money. I think like any media organisation in the State, they need money in now from wherever they can get it.

Got there before me! :DD

Pb Eso

leggo wrote: »

That's probably no coincidence though, that it's not being fully monetized yet. Remember that ads can scare away listeners too. The Irish Times are no mugs, they probably have a specific figure they want for sponsorship and are holding out until they get that. Until then let the listenership build and keep listeners coming back without selling individual ads at Mickey Mouse prices. Advertisers are more than likely hesitant to move right now on podcasting, as it's an area they're not familiar with, but good figures won't go ignored forever.

I agree. I'm coming round to seeing that while they are producing less content per week and have lost some interaction with the podcasts, the move may work out well for them.
1.still doing the same basic job but with more sociable hours
2. Have moved to a medium that is growing and I believe will make enough to give them all a decent wage in time
3.Have started on TV, even though theres different opinions on how that went.
4. Have proven they can bring a loyal following across mediums. If they need to up sticks in future they can do so with less fear

This time last year they were working for the 10th or so year on a good program that was becoming a little stale. They ovbiously were not satisfied with it for whatever reason.
Today they have a chance at making a tv show work and have brought a large audience with them to a podcast.
In pure cash terms they may have been better off staying put, however i applaud them for taking a chance, and expect them to do well both ontv and in podcast

Ol' Donie

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Thanks for the effort, guys - really appreciate it. I was dreading have to skim through weeks of podcasts!

There's a big ad for KBC bank after the report on sport in yesterday's football show.

It's the best part of a minute long.

foxtrot101

Ol' Donie wrote: »

There's a big ad for KBC bank after the report on sport in yesterday's football show.

It's the best part of a minute long.

That's more like it. I hadn't listened to it yet, the prospect of being annoyed by Murph still being on the FS was putting me off.

Ol' Donie

Different ad for KBC in the middle of the "Classic" (rugby, more like) show too.

kerrrBLAHHH

Glad the show has been switched to Mondays, if something of significance happens over the weekend than it is old news by Tuesday and you have heard everyone else's take on it at that stage

Ol' Donie

kerrrBLAHHH wrote: »

Glad the show has been switched to Mondays, if something of significance happens over the weekend than it is old news by Tuesday and you have heard everyone else's take on it at that stage

Plus I can listen to it on the way to five a side. The way it's meant to be.

Pb Eso

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Plus I can listen to it on the way to five a side. The way it's meant to be.

They did it for you Ol'Donie

leggo

Expunge wrote: »

I'm not so sure about that. The IT continues to lose money. I think like any media organisation in the State, they need money in now from wherever they can get it.

Print media as a whole is a race to the bottom these days, at least they're embracing digital media and looking to the future.

Mr Pseudonym

foxtrot101 wrote: »

The same people seem to have stayed loyal to the new OTB show as well though. 42,000 according to the last round of JNLR figures. I was expecting a bit of collapse, but it never happened. Unless a dramatic drop shows up when the new figures come out at the end of this week, which I doubt will happen at this stage.

Considering JNLRs come-out later today, I might add to this comment. But, I never thought of that: perhaps more than expected are new-comers to the show.

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

If they weren't getting more listeners on downloads than live they'd be having a big problem, especially considering they've no real sponsors or ads these days.

I don’t agree about that. It’s a big challenge trying to encourage people to switch to a medium they are unfamiliar with. Also, new name, new host, not a fixed listening time – these would all lead to change in perception of the show. Those, combined with the fact that they were off the airwaves for a few months. You also forget that their old show was five-days-a-week, and three hours long.

leggo wrote: »

What they've done is phenomenal. Podcasts have taken off everywhere in the world, except for Ireland. The only podcasts that have any way decent listenerships until recently were already-popular radio shows regurgitating highlights of said shows, during which they probably plugged the podcast, which they needed to actively promote regularly to keep people subscribed.

For Second Captains to not only make a success of a standalone podcast over here, but make it the most downloaded podcast in the country AND retain close to, if not more, than their listeners on-air is incredible and a testament to the belief they had in themselves in leaving Newstalk. This could have so easily gone horribly wrong.

They've also introduced a large amount of people to the idea of podcasting and made it something feasible for publications like The Irish Times to invest in and get behind. This matters because podcasting (or whatever it evolves into eventually) is pretty much the future of talk radio. And that can only happen once people with money make it worthwhile for talented people to put effort into them.

Make no mistake about it, over time this will prove to be huge, and the lads were at the epicentre of it all over here.

I think you’re a little bit over-excited The ground-work for this success was done when they were on radio. Yes, podcasts are the future, but what exactly are podcasts? They’re merely audio or video shows which are distributed on the web. Therefore, what Ricky Gervais did - created something when there was nothing to mimic, with no experience in that medium, and for it then to become so popular - is truely innovative; Second Captains is just transferring what they did on radio to the web. You say they were at the "epicentre of it here (in Ireland)", but, because of the global nature of the web, there are no national barriers. They should be judged against Football Weekly (going since '08), or other, rather than what's been created by Irish people.

leggo wrote: »

Print media as a whole is a race to the bottom these days, at least they're embracing digital media and looking to the future.

It’s taken them a while, but they seem finally to have some sort of web strategy. I think that people are perfectly willing to pay for content, they just have become used to not paying for print journalism. Therefore, if they can develop an attractive multimedia offering, they could be quite successful. I think the model of the future will be one where some content is free, and other not: they don’t have to sacrifice traffic, and can still extract revenue from those who will subscribe for superior content.


Regarding monetising the podcast: it seems to be clear that the IT isn’t quite sure, yet, how it’s going to extract money from the show. There must also be a fear that the team could move on again (not because of precedent, but because of how cheap and easy podcasts are to make, and because of how successful they’ve so far been. Ofc, the show at present has a lot of contributions from IT scribes, but, potentially, an independent Second Captains could become a force in its own right, attracting high-profile contributors). I think the show is of great value to the IT, though, even if there’s no direct revenue from it: it improves people’s perception of the IT, drives people to the website, encourages listeners to read the contributors’ writings (primary reason, IMO, why Early was given a column – if you can get them to read one article, they’ll prob read more), and gives them a platform to trial other events – recordings in front of audience, etc. This point is encapsulated above, but, if they ever replicate the Guardian sports blog (and why the hell haven’t they?) each would complement the other.

leggo

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I think you’re a little bit over-excited The ground-work for this success was done when they were on radio. Yes, podcasts are the future, but what exactly are podcasts? They’re merely audio or video shows which are distributed on the web. Therefore, what Ricky Gervais did - created something when there was nothing to mimic, with no experience in that medium, and for it then to become so popular - is truely innovative; Second Captains is just transferring what they did on radio to the web. You say they were at the "epicentre of it here (in Ireland)", but, because of the global nature of the web, there are no national barriers. They should be judged against Football Weekly (going since '08), or other, rather than what's been created by Irish people.

I've worked on podcasts before (including an all-sports one similar to Second Captains before it came along) and struggled with the exact issues that make this a big deal. If you're looking to get sponsorship, advertising, expand, basically do anything beyond talking into a microphone, Irish companies look at you like, "What's a podcast?" Or they regard it like a video blog on YouTube.

I've worked on podcasts that had serious listenerships (considering they came from nothing) and with people with great backgrounds in media and serious credentials...but nope, nothing. I've looked to build up projects, get a base listenership, concept, style etc established, then sell them onto organisations to use. Again there was no massive success story in Ireland to model it off and, even if you talk to people and say, "Look this is done in America, Australia, the UK, everywhere!", they'll look back at you blankly and say, "Yeah...well that's there." If you don't have that, then podcasting starts to weigh heavy on you because it's extremely hard work to build anything professional with any kind of ambition. Try doing it while trying to hold down a full-time job to pay the bills, in other words. Try getting regular contributors who have to do the same to offer any kind of viable commitment too. Put simply, it becomes impossible.

The fact that already-successful people over here have made the conscious decision to move away from radio into podcasting is massive for the medium. It's all well and good that Marc Meron became a star with WTF in the States, people over here have never heard of him so don't care. The fact that the guys they used to love listening to on the drive home in the evenings did, though? That opens eyes that there's this entire world out there they didn't know about.

It means that, slowly but surely, talented people with stuff to offer (that simply wouldn't work in the overly-commercialised world of radio) will start to see it as a viable choice and generate original content for people here. That's why it matters.

Mr Pseudonym

I appreciate your points, and hope you didn't think my post condescending (on re-reading, I'm not sure how you wouldn't). I think I may have misunderstood the point you were making: I agree that, from an industry perspective, this has been very significant, and made podcasting an alternative to radio, rather than as support for it (in which role, even, it has been entirely under-utilised). My point was that they are not true podders, and rely on having come from radio for most of their expertise and much of their listenership. Let someone like Jarleth Regan take credit for having one of the first innovative shows to amass widespread acclaim in Ireland.

leggo

Didn't take it the wrong way at all, no worries, all just good debate. And I agree that Jarlath deserves credit for his work, these guys just got much more acclaim given that it made national news, whereas he doesn't have the required profile to do so. Their move will hopefully open the door for talented guys like himself to have their work heard.

soc160

leggo wrote: »

The fact that already-successful people over here have made the conscious decision to move away from radio into podcasting is massive for the medium.

It means that, slowly but surely, talented people with stuff to offer (that simply wouldn't work in the overly-commercialised world of radio) will start to see it as a viable choice and generate original content for people here. That's why it matters.

Who has moved successfully into podcasting over here though? I mean if SC had it there own way they would not have wound up doing a podcast, they would still be on national radio at an earlier time slot presumably, or have a permanent TV show by now. They only signed up for the podcast a good 2 months after they left NT so they were presumably in talks with other media outlets. I mean in terms of listeners it's very good but a podcast is surely not as a attractive as a radio show. The thing about the old OTB was that it controlled the 7-10 slot, now the SC podcast is seen as a supplement to OTB, suppose it worked out for both parties in a way.

On that, who else do you think could move into podcasting instead of radio? Wonder if the current OTB lads would consider it....

leggo

soc160 wrote: »

Who has moved successfully into podcasting over here though? I mean if SC had it there own way they would not have wound up doing a podcast, they would still be on national radio at an earlier time slot presumably, or have a permanent TV show by now. They only signed up for the podcast a good 2 months after they left NT so they were presumably in talks with other media outlets. I mean in terms of listeners it's very good but a podcast is surely not as a attractive as a radio show. The thing about the old OTB was that it controlled the 7-10 slot, now the SC podcast is seen as a supplement to OTB, suppose it worked out for both parties in a way.

On that, who else do you think could move into podcasting instead of radio? Wonder if the current OTB lads would consider it....

That's the thing people over here don't understand yet: podcasts aren't by any means an inferior medium to radio. You've a much more flexible schedule, MUCH more creative licence, less commercial pressures and people to answer to etc etc. I think, given the added benefits, a great deal of current radio personalities would move into podcasting if they could earn the same kinda money off them. It's like I've been saying for years: people elsewhere are making a good living off podcasts and making names for themselves where they wouldn't otherwise in a world where PDs are looking for a certain thing. It's just that in Ireland there hasn't been that road map for success yet, and the fact you yourself still see it as an inferior medium is a great illustration of how people still fail to see the massive potential in them.

Like you said yourself, in those intermittent months before they started SC, they had to be talking to several organisations. The fact that they ended up on RTE TV is telling, to that end. So why did they end up choosing this as their best option?

Would the current OTB lads swap if they could? I dunno, you'd have to ask them, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion by any means that they wouldn't. I think you're asking the wrong question tbh: why did the SC lads give what they're doing up to do this?

Loafing Oaf

leggo wrote: »

The fact that already-successful people over here have made the conscious decision to move away from radio into podcasting is massive for the medium.

Do we know that this is what happened, or did the IT see these guys floundering after their falling out with NT and throw them a lifeline?

No idea what the economics of SC podcast are, but I remain to be convinced it as yet amounts to anything more than a vanity/charitable project by the IT.

leggo

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Do we know that this is what happened, or did the IT see these guys floundering after their falling out with NT and throw them a lifeline?

No idea what the economics of SC podcast are, but I remain to be convinced it as yet amounts to anything more than a vanity/charitable project by the IT.

I don't think that's how it works somehow...

Ol' Donie

Sure didn't they (in fact the current lads still do) podcast the radio show anyway?

Loafing Oaf

leggo wrote: »

I don't think that's how it works somehow...

You reckon the guys had the Times gig lined up before they quit NT? It didn't look that way at the time but maybe you have inside info?

Mr Pseudonym

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

You reckon the guys had the Times gig lined up before they quit NT? It didn't look that way at the time but maybe you have inside info?

I think that there's no way that they left en-masse without having something lined-up. I'd say the Times podcast was that, but that they were looking for something else. Matt Cooper was even more secure than Hook in his slot, leaving RTE as the only alternative on Radio.

soc160

leggo wrote: »

That's the thing people over here don't understand yet: podcasts aren't by any means an inferior medium to radio. You've a much more flexible schedule, MUCH more creative licence, less commercial pressures and people to answer to etc etc. I think, given the added benefits, a great deal of current radio personalities would move into podcasting if they could earn the same kinda money off them. It's like I've been saying for years: people elsewhere are making a good living off podcasts and making names for themselves where they wouldn't otherwise in a world where PDs are looking for a certain thing. It's just that in Ireland there hasn't been that road map for success yet, and the fact you yourself still see it as an inferior medium is a great illustration of how people still fail to see the massive potential in them.

Like you said yourself, in those intermittent months before they started SC, they had to be talking to several organisations. The fact that they ended up on RTE TV is telling, to that end. So why did they end up choosing this as their best option?

Would the current OTB lads swap if they could? I dunno, you'd have to ask them, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion by any means that they wouldn't. I think you're asking the wrong question tbh: why did the SC lads give what they're doing up to do this?

I dont consider it more inferior in terms of it's value to society and it's potential but it is a much less accessible medium than radio or TV, it takes a little bit of effort to download it where as all you have to do is turn a radio on to hear what it brings, it's not a major issue though especially seeing as less young people listen to the radio and we have improved internet access. The benefits are obvious in that it brings less pressure and offers more freedom.

I would question how easy and lucrative it would be to leave a radio station, set up a podcast that offers a substantial wage for the team behind it and the presenter/presenters without the backing of some media outlet to offer support. Like if the OTB lads didn't have IT behind them would they able to spin it to make it lucrative. Take Aidrian and Jeremy from FM104 if you are familiar with them, they have set up a podcast in the interim of moving stations but I couldn't see that turning a profit, obviously it's a show which relies on listener interaction which is again another stumbling block...

As for your question, I suppose that's something we wouldn't know unless they answer it but they didn't leave with the intention of doing setting up a podcast, or if they did they didn't announce it earlier and same themselves alot of grief

Loafing Oaf

soc160 wrote: »

I would question how easy and lucrative it would be to leave a radio station, set up a podcast that offers a substantial wage for the team behind it and the presenter/presenters without the backing of some media outlet to offer support. Like if the OTB lads didn't have IT behind them would they able to spin it to make it lucrative.

Indeed. Supposing (horror of horrors) the IT were go out of business in five years. Even after further years of 'building up the brand', acquiring sponsors etc. would Second Captains be anywhere close to being able to stand on its own feet? Somehow I think the lads will be combining their podcasting with vigorous efforts to build on their foot on the door at RTE...

leggo

Agree with pretty much everything you say there soc160, but again the point stands that you have to figure they were offered positions on radio (their listenership for that slot and media attention their departure got sells itself; the RTE television deal with RTE's own flagship daily sports radio show struggling; all the evidence says it's not a massive jump to assume) and still chose to go this route. And yes, you do need backers to make a podcast successful, which wouldn't happen without an insane listenership (you're talking #1 in the iTunes charts) or a high profile, which leads us to where we are now. They have both.

The reality is that this is done successfully all across the globe, and in time podcasts (or, as stated, whatever they evolve into) will be where most good talk radio lives. That's the way the wind is blowing. There's no reason that these guys can't be at the forefront of that here with listenership staying strong. I could find a sponsor for them myself tomorrow with those numbers. And once it's seen that the model works, all of a sudden everyone else will have someone to point to as precedent and the floodgates will open. So they'll be getting my full support until such a time.

leggo

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Indeed. Supposing (horror of horrors) the IT were go out of business in five years. Even after further years of 'building up the brand', acquiring sponsors etc. would Second Captains be anywhere close to being able to stand on its own feet? Somehow I think the lads will be combining their podcasting with vigorous efforts to build on their foot on the door at RTE...

If they were to secure a sponsor and kept the same figures, it wouldn't be difficult to maintain that in the unlikely event that the Times went out of business (though they'd possibly have to scale down presuming IT did some kind of package deal on ads - though that's all dotting i's and crossing t's). It isn't expensive or difficult to produce a professional-standard podcast either. The main stumbling block is getting the right people, they have that.

And whether or not they'd jump to 2FM at their first opportunity is another massively contentious point, considering it assumes they haven't had one. It'd be easier to get a nightly radio show on a station caught in flux than a weekly TV show.

Loafing Oaf

leggo wrote: »

If they were to secure a sponsor and kept the same figures, it wouldn't be difficult to maintain that in the unlikely event that the Times went out of business (though they'd possibly have to scale down presuming IT did some kind of package deal on ads - though that's all dotting i's and crossing t's). It isn't expensive or difficult to produce a professional-standard podcast either. The main stumbling block is getting the right people, they have that.

And whether or not they'd jump to 2FM at their first opportunity is another massively contentious point, considering it assumes they haven't had one. It'd be easier to get a nightly radio show on a station caught in flux than a weekly TV show.

Sorry wasn't clear, I'm sure they could afford to produce the podcast without the support of a big media organisation, the question is whether they would ever be able to earn a living wage out of it.

And I don't think the disappearance of the IT before the current decade is out of the question, given the way circulation is going.:(

soc160

leggo wrote: »

Agree with pretty much everything you say there soc160, but again the point stands that you have to figure they were offered positions on radio (their listenership for that slot and media attention their departure got sells itself; the RTE television deal with RTE's own flagship daily sports radio show struggling; all the evidence says it's not a massive jump to assume) and still chose to go this route. And yes, you do need backers to make a podcast successful, which wouldn't happen without an insane listenership (you're talking #1 in the iTunes charts) or a high profile, which leads us to where we are now. They have both.

The reality is that this is done successfully all across the globe, and in time podcasts (or, as stated, whatever they evolve into) will be where most good talk radio lives. That's the way the wind is blowing. There's no reason that these guys can't be at the forefront of that here with listenership staying strong. I could find a sponsor for them myself tomorrow with those numbers. And once it's seen that the model works, all of a sudden everyone else will have someone to point to as precedent and the floodgates will open. So they'll be getting my full support until such a time.

I agree that we are moving towards podcast's, lots of shows have them as supplements, but that's within a framework of a radiostation I listen to a good few each week. They have done a good job retaining and gaining listeners and we can only imagine it will grow and grow. I listen anyway.

I would still question the econimics of it. Like imagine if Moncrieff left NT, offered a similar daily podcast. His fee, his team's fee, production costs would heavily outweigh any sponsorship and advertising. Advertising on a podcast is not as lucrative as radio, on radio you can space it out and target different listeners at different times not really the case with a podcast.

But look, the lads are successful in terms of listenership and they have done a great job so obviously they are doing it right, it would be good to have an insight to the economics to see if this will become a trend, if current OTB build a brand in two or three years would they do the same as I mentioned, stations will need to start considering it when they are drawing up contracts.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Good to hear the boys are still going with their podcast, shame they still haven't got another go on Radio, I thought 2fm might have been a good gig to run against OTB (that Game On thing is painful). I have to say though that I like Ger Gilroy, Wooly, Gizzy, Joe and co, it's good stuff and I like putting it on when I get home in the evenings.

Muff Richardson

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I think that there's no way that they left en-masse without having something lined-up. I'd say the Times podcast was that, but that they were looking for something else. Matt Cooper was even more secure than Hook in his slot, leaving RTE as the only alternative on Radio.

somewhat of Keane walking out/getting sent home debate but the off the ball lads put an ultimatum to the shows producers regarding broadcasting times and it went to the top and were duly fired by o brien, they got too big for their boots and their big egos went up against a ruthless billionaire scumbag and unsurprisingly they lost. It's well documented, I don't think there's any question of them "leaving en masse"...they were f*cked out on their ear so do you really think they had anything lined up especially seeing as it was in the form of a s*tty cashless podcast that sounds like they are all sitting around a tape recorder in their dads shed.

I doubt a minute goes by where they don't think of how stupid they were.

We've seen it all before but here it is again anyway...

http://balls.ie/news/the-denis-obrien-eoin-mcdevitt-phoncalls/

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Muff Richardson wrote: »

somewhat of Keane walking out/getting sent home debate but the off the ball lads put an ultimatum to the shows producers regarding broadcasting times and it went to the top and were duly fired by o brien, they got too big for their boots and their big egos went up against a ruthless billionaire scumbag and unsurprisingly they lost. It's well documented, I don't think there's any question of them "leaving en masse"...they were f*cked out on their ear so do you really think they had anything lined up especially seeing as it was in the form of a s*tty cashless podcast that sounds like they are all sitting around a tape recorder in their dads shed.

I doubt a minute goes by where they don't think of how stupid they were.

We've seen it all before but here it is again anyway...

http://balls.ie/news/the-denis-obrien-eoin-mcdevitt-phoncalls/

I wonder do they really regret it though. To them, they had brought the show as far as they could for as long as they could.
Getting 2 series on RTE is already enough of a win for them in my opinion, two of the three of them never having been on tv before. Ken now writes for the Irish Times. They're now in a position to monetise a podcast they have control over.

They could end up on 2fm, they might get a third tv series, they might make longer podcasts with a few more ads. To them, all the alternatives may seem better than if they continued doing 7-10 on Newstalk 5 evenings a week for another 5 years.

leggo

Muff Richardson wrote: »

somewhat of Keane walking out/getting sent home debate but the off the ball lads put an ultimatum to the shows producers regarding broadcasting times and it went to the top and were duly fired by o brien, they got too big for their boots and their big egos went up against a ruthless billionaire scumbag and unsurprisingly they lost. It's well documented, I don't think there's any question of them "leaving en masse"...they were f*cked out on their ear so do you really think they had anything lined up especially seeing as it was in the form of a s*tty cashless podcast that sounds like they are all sitting around a tape recorder in their dads shed.

I doubt a minute goes by where they don't think of how stupid they were.

We've seen it all before but here it is again anyway...

http://balls.ie/news/the-denis-obrien-eoin-mcdevitt-phoncalls/

If you're prepared to put an ultimatum like that to your bosses, you're prepared to leave. I've done it myself in various scenarios (with both sets of results) so I can relate to the mindset. What you're saying is that the current situation doesn't work for you anymore and you want to go if it persists, which is backed up by the fact that they had previously given notice before being talked down. So why would they regret it? Sounds like they were tired of things and wanted a change, they got one.

And they're significantly more noteworthy and thus valuable since: no longer are they just 'the lads from OTB', they've made a brand out of their style of radio and have gotten work doing so. Even if (and it is a big if, knowing how frugal NT can be) they're earning slightly less these days, they're in a much better bargaining position for new opportunities and I'd say that independence is far more rewarding in terms of the work itself.

Muff Richardson

leggo wrote: »

If you're prepared to put an ultimatum like that to your bosses, you're prepared to leave. I've done it myself in various scenarios (with both sets of results) so I can relate to the mindset. What you're saying is that the current situation doesn't work for you anymore and you want to go if it persists, which is backed up by the fact that they had previously given notice before being talked down. So why would they regret it? Sounds like they were tired of things and wanted a change, they got one.

And they're significantly more noteworthy and thus valuable since: no longer are they just 'the lads from OTB', they've made a brand out of their style of radio and have gotten work doing so. Even if (and it is a big if, knowing how frugal NT can be) they're earning slightly less these days, they're in a much better bargaining position for new opportunities and I'd say that independence is far more rewarding in terms of the work itself.

I couldn't disagree anymore with this lot.

soc160

Can we not do this again?

davenusman

Lads just curious.
Just finally started using podcasts through I tunes.
Great to hear the lads again.
But

Is there any GAA on the podcasts show or is it all just soccer/rugby/Dunphy?

spank_inferno

davenusman wrote: »

Lads just curious.
Just finally started using podcasts through I tunes.
Great to hear the lads again.
But

Is there any GAA on the podcasts show or is it all just soccer/rugby/Dunphy?

Pretty sure they cover quite a bit during championship season.