PodMov Daily: Friday, February 21

Episode 147: Week Download Complete

The Big Light: Scotland's First Podcast Network

The Big Light, recognized as Scotland’s first podcast network, has officially launched. The company’s founders, broadcaster Janice Forsyth and former TV producer Fiona White, have announced that an extended, unfiltered version of Talk Media will be the first new show on deck.

Paul Trainer of Glasgowist writes that The Big Light will “feature a high-quality mix of compelling podcast series across a wide range of genres.” Upcoming shows include The Tartan Noir Show (a “weekly preview/review and chat celebrating Scottish crime fiction”) and Double Scotch (“an entertaining weekly whisky podcast”).

Janice Forsyth commented that “by creating a new platform for Scottish culture, stories and voices,” the network’s mission “is to connect a global audience with the very best audio on-demand content that Scotland has to offer.”

SquareOne: Developing Podcasts with Audiovisual Ends

Andreas Wiseman of Deadline reports on “another sign that the film and TV industry’s appetite for podcasting is growing in Europe as well as the U.S.” German movie distributor SquareOne Entertainment has launched a podcasting and digital unit, SquareOne Unlimited.

A monetization remark from SquareOne CEO Al Munteanu speaks volumes: Instead of advertising, “another route can be selling the podcasts to the likes of Audible or Spotify with a view to turning them into audiovisual content.”

Munteanu explained, “The idea is to increase ownership of IP and be as much a creator as a distributor.” With podcast-to-screen adaptations on the rise, it only follows that more audio will be developed with the end goal of a TV series or film.

Spreaker and Staples Connect Open Podcasting Studios

Spreaker has collaborated with Staples Connect in the Boston area “to be the hosting and distribution vendor in the podcast space at retail stores.” The Staples Connect concept was planned as a ‘reinvented' store “that would have coworking, community event and podcasting spaces.”

Six stores have podcast studios, developed through a collaboration with iHeartRadio. Each studio “features a soundproof room with professional equipment for up to four people,” writes Ivey Amburgey. Perks for users include a “dedicated in-store specialist and discounted access to host and distribute podcasts on Spreaker.”

The partnership recognizes the changing retail needs of creators, Amburgey explains, noting that many Staples “customers are launching and recording podcasts, but struggling to find the space to record.” Boston area podcasters can find more information here.

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Here's what else is going on:

• Time machine: In a video interview for France 24, longtime history podcaster Mike Duncan (The History of Rome, Revolutions) discusses the “ground floor” of podcasting in 2007 and how his passion became a successful career.

• Demand, supply: Apple is considering letting iPhone users select a third-party music app like Spotify or Pandora instead the Apple Music default. Fast Company reports that the potential changes may also apply to the HomePod smart speaker.

• Treasure map: A blog post from Spotify describes new podcast discovery features for mobile. Changes made to the Podcast Show page include a ‘refreshed' design with displayed show descriptions, new categories, and featured trailers.

• Less traveled: Dan Misener reveals the current most crowded categories in Apple Podcasts compared to data from fall 2018. A key takeaway: If deciding between 2 categories that fit your content, “choose the less-crowded one.”