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Popular Podcast Transitions To Pay-for Format

  • Cnet News, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:15 AM
In what analysts say is the first major example of a free podcast attempting to go paid, "The Ricky Gervais Show," one of the Web's most popular podcasts, will now charge users $1.95 per episode and $6.95 for a whole season. The show reached an agreement with Audible to sell its episodes on the audio book vendor's Web site. The deal covers seasons two and three and includes at least four episodes of "The Office"--Ricky Gervais is the creator and star of the popular British television show. One wonders whether such a move will spark a trend, because the vast majority of podcasts are free and still make little to no money selling ads. The half-hour "Ricky Gervais Show" is the No. 4 most popular show on Apple's Top 100 podcasts directory; the Audible deal is expected to include sales on iTunes. Podcasters on Audible do have the option of selling their subscriber information to advertisers, but a company spokesperson said "The Gervais Show" will not carry advertising.

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