MediaGuardian covers the BBC’s decision to start Vodcasting (aka V-logging, Vidi-logging, Vidcasting etc.). The broadcaster will begin its new service with a weekly round up of Question Time, News at Ten and Newsnight; the service will expand over time to include daily round-up’s and Question Time highlights.
I’m looking forward to seeing some of their programming; but much like many people I know I won’t be watching it on the move, I don’t even listen to podcasts on the move, just at my computer.
For an organisation like the BBC vidicasts are a sensible move in an ever growing world of interactive media; all the footage and programming is already there and the only additional work comes in the form of editing and voice-over work. If a station offers streaming and on-demand programming there’s no reason why it shouldn’t allow the download of the same, or at least a condensed version of it.
In the wider world of social media I don’t see Vidicasting as having any large-scale potential, however, certainly no-where near the level of impact that blogging is currently having.
As you go higher on the scale of the three main social media players, blogging, podcasting and vidicasting the amount of effort and even cost also increases. Starting a blog is simple, for most people it’s no harder than a sign-up to Blogger or WordPress. Podcasting is a little bit more difficult; you need recording equipment (mic, editing software etc.) and you need to pay for some kind of hosting too. Of course you also need something to talk about that takes advantage of the medium; there’s no point in creating a spoken-word version of your blog as you may as well just write it in that case. Perhaps you could get guests on, have a debate, sample from other shows and talk about them etc but that can create an organisational issue too. Finally Vidicasting which is similar to podcasting except you also need a camera (and for good video hosting even more money).
To make a good podcast or vidicast it’s not as simple as having basic equipment and a topic, it’s also about production. While social media helps to take high-cost production out of the equation it never hurts to have a high quality audio or video file on offer; a well edited audio clip which includes decent music, cuts and segments etc. is not all that easy to do but it’s a hell of a lot easier than creating a video of a similar standard. Creating a well-edited video clip demands seemless cuts of both image and audio; good production dictates some kind of reasonable visual set up (in other words, a set, and decent on-screen captions and text). None of these factors need to make the whole thing much more expensive but they certainly add to the complexity of it.
Finally Vidicasting is hindered by the issue of anonymity. On Saturday with Susan McReynolds on the 22nd it was pointed out that there is no anonymity online which is true, however there is still the ability to remain unknown for the most part; some people operating online can only be traced by ISP’s authorities or people really determined to “out” them, which would likely not come about unless the circumstances were serious. Blogging allows for anonymity and podcasting does too; Vidicasting is not so secret-friendly however. Sure it is possible to Vidicast and conceal your identity but it’s not easy to pull off and it will probably damage the show (unless it’s part of the appeal).
All said I don’t see Vidicasting becoming as important a part of the social media mix like blogging and even podcasting, it will likely remain a lesser-pursued hobby online for various reasons be they cost, complexity or personal decision. Sites like YouTube increase the ability for people to upload their own video’s without cost and at high speed but for the most part that site is just being used to pass around funny mobile-phone video’s and viral ad’s and clips. There is still a use for Vidicasting, however. Events like the Irish Blog Awards could benefit from a video podcast of the whole event, and it did have a recording of the 2006 awards online before.
Creating my own video show just doesn’t appeal to me, while blogging and podcasting does; I imagine I’m not alone in that.