BT Teams Up With US Media Entrepeneurs PodShow to Launch BT PodShow
–BTPodShow invites the UK to Join the Show–
London England, September 13, 2006 – BT today announced it has teamed up with US media entrepreneurs PodShow™ to launch BT PodShow, a British version of the hugely popular US PodShow Network with extra content and functionality produced specifically for the UK market.
BT Podshow will be accessible to all UK internet users, and enables creative individuals, media production companies and record labels to share their content – both video and audio – with an audience of millions in the UK and around the world.
BT Podshow is also launching a nationwide call for aspiring film producers, musicians, presenters and DJ’s from across the UK to submit audio and video content, enabling them to ‘get in on the show’.
The website, www.btpodshow.com, is already generating considerable interest from bloggers and media producers alike. Based on the success of PodShow in the US, BT PodShow is expecting thousands of talented people to contribute material with the best set to feature on “The Show” section of the website.
PodShow was launched in early 2005 by media entrepreneurs Ron Bloom and Adam Curry - the latter commonly known as the “Podfather”. In recent months, podcasting has emerged from a home-grown medium to become the epicentre of high-quality new media entertainment, hugely popular with both consumers and marketers. The top shows on the PodShow Network already garner millions of downloads with content in over 130 categories and multiple languages.
In July 2006, PodShow launched PodShow+, enabling consumers to create, share and connect with digital media and giving its audience access to more than 60,000 podcasts as well as a world of video, music and other entertainment in a range of formats. BT has now joined forces with this team to produce a UK version of PodShow+.
BT PodShow will initially launch by inviting UK talent to contribute to The Show. It will expand in the future to become an extensive source of entertainment, featuring thousands of hours of material both by established artists and mainstream media outlets as well as by individuals and independent producers.
BT PodShow will provide users with their own personal online media centres where they can post their own content and interact with others locally and across the globe, both benefiting from and creating great entertainment. Users will also be able to enjoy their favourite shows on any connected device, from PC to mobile and even TV. Converged services such as BT Fusion and BT Movio have already shown that traditional barriers are coming down and it is expected that some BT PodShow content will feature on BT Vision.
Speaking at the launch today, Gavin Patterson BT Consumer MD, said: “Podcasting really does illustrate the true power of broadband. What is great about it is that all you need is a way to record audio or video, a computer and an internet connection.
“BT recognises the importance of this exciting new world of communications and is leading the way in the UK by partnering with innovators, including PodShow, to explore opportunities for new cutting edge products and services.
“What we are doing by launching www.btpodshow.com is not only helping to bring a new and exciting form of entertainment to the UK market but also providing a platform to promote new talent who may otherwise struggle to find recognition.”
Ron Bloom CEO and Co-Founder of PodShow added: “We are moving from a world of broadcasting to a world of ALL-casting, where everyone wants a reliable way to create, share and connect. There is an incredible amount of talent and programming out there that never sees the light of day, because there is simply no way for traditional media to provide the choice that the audience craves. BT and PodShow are ideal partners to provide the great range of incredible content on the highest-quality broadband network”.
Adam Curry, President and Co-founder of PodShow continued: “I believe everyone has the desire to express themselves creatively but they have simply lacked the platform on which to do it. Some people dream of stardom. Others simply want the chance to share their creativity with family and friends. Over the past year, we have helped many people in the states become new media stars, and, with BT as a partner, I can’t wait to bring the Show to the UK!”
ENDSNOTES TO EDITORS
For further information on PodShow
Inquiries about this news release should be made to Aaron Burcell: Office +1 415 247 8612, Cell +1 650 740 3134 or e-mail aaron@podshow.com.
For further information on BT
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.
About PodShow, Inc.
PodShow is the world’s premier network for the creation, discovery and distribution of podcasts and other independently produced media, assembling the leading communities in podcasting, as well as a host of the most popular personalities and shows in new media. PodShow also offers professional production and directory services to major media companies and traditional businesses. PodShowPDN is the first high-performance content delivery network meeting the specific needs of podcasting, delivering a comprehensive creation, production, monetization and delivery solution for independent producers and mainstream media companies. PodShow makes content more accessible to a growing global audience, provides resources for producers, and enables marketers to take part in the new media explosion. PodShow’s Podsafe Music Network (www.podsafemusicnetwork.com) is a leading destination for listener consumption of “podsafe” music as well as the producer resource for licensing music for inclusion in podcasts and other forms of media PodShow is a privately-held company, backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital and Sherpalo Ventures. Operating in the UK, PodShow LTD is entirely owned by PodShow, Inc. For more, visit: www.podshow.com.
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group’s revenue was £19, 514 million with profit before taxation of £2,040 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
September 13th, 2006 at 9:39 am
[...] BT PodShow Press Release [...]
September 13th, 2006 at 9:57 am
[...] You can find out more infomation by following one of the links below: >> http://www.podshow.com >> http://www.btpodshow.com >> pressroom.podshow.com [...]
September 14th, 2006 at 1:37 am
[...] PodShow has announced it has partnered with the giant UK-based telco BT to form BT Podshow. A media release from PodShow announced that the search was on for “aspiring film producers, musicians, presenters and DJ’s from across the UK.” [...]
September 14th, 2006 at 5:03 am
[...] It seems that with only a few left before the Detective Fashion season finale is finally posted, the podcasting world has shifted a little bit already. Podshow UK has officially launched under the name BT Podshow and even the mighty Ron Bloom has cited Spainful Films as an indication of UK based talent. (I’ve never spoken to him but I’ve heard he’s a big fan). So it also seems the Podshow’s new drive seems to be to find even more talent rather than heavily promote the hand full of shows they’ve already signed in their initial sweep. Neil Dixon makes an interesting point that a third of podcasters he has spoken to (on Podshow’s behalf) have neither heard of Podshow or even Britcaster. This shocked me, as it suggests they’ve been working without proper research but it remains to be seen, or heard, if any of these poor ignorant fools actually produce shows that are any good. [...]
November 15th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
[...] A little over a year ago, PodShow lept to the head of a movement focused on independent media. Adam and I founded PodShow to bring the best of podcasting to what we felt was an audience who was increasingly diverse, disenfranchised and disillusioned with traditional media (the Three D’s). We have experienced hyper-growth in the subsequent year. We’ve created the premier podcast network. And, in the process we’re enabling creative people from around the world to connect with a growing audience and make money. For those of you who have produced content on PodShow, we thank you. For those of you who have come to trust PodShow as your source of new media, we thank you, and we encourage you to start creating, sharing and connecting. In earlier interviews and publications, I put forward the 5/50 rule that predicted within 5 years, over 50% of the content consumed would be created by other consumers. From my vantage point, I’m now thinking that I underestimated the percentages. Over the last year, PodShow’s reach has grown significantly by developing and investing in new forms of programming and by creating new feature functionality that enhances our platform. We see podcasting as an important piece of a larger media strategy and we have been hard at work turning that strategy into action. We have created partnerships, expanding our presence in other countries, and we are opening up our delivery platform to audiences accessing media through mobile devices and IPTV. [...]
December 4th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
BT y PodShow lanzan BT PodShow
BT junto con PodShow anunciarón el lanzamiento de BT PodShow, la versión británica de PodShow Network con algunas funcionalidades específicas de producción para el mercado británico y solo será accesible para internautas de UK.
PodShow con Ad…