| Podcasts are simply feeds of simple MP3 files that | | | | Baptist Church podcasts hold listener interest by |
| can be hosted by any web server. However, many | | | | mixing sermons and Bible readings with live music and |
| podcast producers experience trouble keeping their | | | | commentary. In some communities church podcasts |
| sound files accessible to audiences, especially when | | | | provide more comprehensive local news coverage |
| podcast episodes become extremely popular. Most | | | | than some radio stations or newspapers. Other |
| inexpensive web hosting providers do not necessarily | | | | religious podcasters use their audio feeds to promote |
| specialize in podcast hosting. As a result, when many | | | | contemporary Christian music and to promote |
| listeners try to access a single podcast file at once, | | | | church-sponsored events. |
| hard drives can lock up, servers can seize, and | | | | Baptist Church podcasts aren't the only religious audio |
| hosting accounts can quickly run beyond their allotted | | | | feeds available online. Every religion practiced on Earth |
| bandwidth allowances. | | | | is represented somewhere in the podcasting universe. |
| Therefore, many experienced podcast producers | | | | One reporter for the British newspaper, The |
| host their podcast feeds and sound files at | | | | Guardian, even found a Buddhist podcast produced |
| specialized services away from their main servers. | | | | as a hobby by a professional crisis management |
| That way, if a particular podcast gains national or | | | | consultant. |
| worldwide attention, a podcast hosting provider can | | | | Regardless of denomination, listeners of religious |
| handle the load without charging excess overage | | | | podcasts enjoy the opportunity to embrace their |
| fees. Likewise, many of the best podcast hosting | | | | spirituality throughout the week. Some subscribers to |
| providers charge far less for data storage than | | | | Baptist Church podcasts report listening to upbeat |
| traditional web hosts, since audio files can easily be | | | | religious music on the treadmills at their gyms. Other |
| moved and copied within data centers. Here are | | | | listeners use calming meditations and benedictions to |
| three of the best podcast hosting providers on the | | | | relieve stress at work or on the road. Business |
| market. | | | | travelers listen to Baptist Church podcasts in hotels |
| Operated by Eric Rice, HipCast is one of the best | | | | and in airports to remain connected to their |
| podcast hosting providers for new podcasters. | | | | congregations while easing a sense of lonliness that |
| HipCast offers simple controls that let inexperienced | | | | can set in on the road. |
| users create and upload podcast files directly from | | | | As a growing number of churches invest in podcast |
| their web browsers. With just a microphone and a | | | | production technology, expect to hear even more |
| live web connection, you can have your own podcast | | | | Baptist Church podcasts in the near future. |
| up and running in a matter of minutes. HipCast's | | | | Additional Resources: |
| affordable pricing, with packages under five dollars | | | | Edmonton Journal |
| per month, make it easy for budding podcasters to | | | | The Guardian |
| experiment without breaking the bank. | | | | The Story Behind the Guiding Light Podcast |
| If AudioAcrobat resembles HipCast, it's because | | | | With ratings flagging for one of the oldest shows in |
| both services share a common technical | | | | soap opera history, executives at CBS decided to |
| infrastructure. The slightly more expensive | | | | launch an experimental podcast of "Guiding Light." In |
| AudioAcrobat does not share all of HipCast's easy | | | | some ways, as Vauhini Vara of the Wall Street |
| blogging features, but it does carry a few unique | | | | Journal points out, the move is a return to the |
| benefits. For example, users can give out a "guest | | | | show's roots. The Guiding Light Podcast reconnects |
| line" phone number that allows podcast listeners to | | | | the series to its origins as a radio soap opera in the |
| leave reactions as voice mail messages that can be | | | | late 1930's. Today's podcasting technology means |
| incorporated into podcast playlists. | | | | that fans no longer have to gather around the radio - |
| Liberated Syndication. While requiring a little more | | | | or even the television - to enjoy the devious plots |
| technical sophistication, LibSyn is one of the best | | | | cooked up by the characters of Springfield. |
| podcast hosting providers because of its innovative | | | | The Guiding Light Podcast offers much more than |
| pricing structure. LibSyn charges its users based on | | | | just the audio track from the previous day's episode. |
| the number of new material they upload to the | | | | A podcast producer actually strips out commercials |
| server each month, with no charges for data | | | | and remasters the audio so listeners can understand |
| transfer. That way, podcast producers that | | | | everything that happens in an episode. Since it can be |
| experience a sudden surge of interest after receiving | | | | difficult for listeners to know when a villain is hiding in |
| attention from a major site like Fark or Digg can rest | | | | the bushes or when a heroine is gazing longingly at |
| easy. LibSyn's powerful servers will handle a heavy | | | | her man, a narrator helps fill in gaps in the action. |
| load without putting an unexpected burden on the | | | | CBS launched the Guiding Light Podcast without ads |
| pocketbook. | | | | to help promote the show and build a more direct |
| The Story Behind Baptist Church Podcasts | | | | relationship with a younger audience. Network |
| When podcasting emerged as a way for technical | | | | executives hope that the Guiding Light Podcast can |
| experts to share information with each other a few | | | | encourage tech-savvy fans to start grabbing the |
| years ago, few people considered the impact that | | | | television show using their TiVos. Once the audience |
| podcasting could have on faith and spirituality. | | | | for the Guiding Light Podcast grows large enough, |
| However, recent research indicates that Baptist | | | | producers expect to support its production costs |
| Church podcasts and other religious "godcasts" are | | | | with subtle advertising at the beginning and at the |
| growing faster than all other types of podcasts, | | | | end of every episode. |
| combined. | | | | Executives at other networks are eager to see how |
| It makes perfect sense for Baptist Church podcasts | | | | the Guiding Light Podcast helps grow audience for |
| to grow so rapidly - evangelical churches spread the | | | | CBS. All of the broadcast television networks, as well |
| word about Jesus Christ as part of their everyday | | | | as many cable outlets, have experimented with |
| mission. Tech-savvy preachers and their technical | | | | companion podcasts for their biggest shows. |
| teams realized quickly that recorded sermons could | | | | However, most of those podcasts are technical |
| easily be repurposed into podcasts. Preachers and | | | | commentaries by the show's technical teams and plot |
| other religious leaders can not only connect with | | | | recaps by show producers. The Lost podcast at |
| members of their own flock, but they can attract | | | | ABC.com, the Battlestar Galactica podcast at |
| faithful listeners from all over the world. | | | | SciFi.com, and the Doctor Who podcast at BBC.co.uk |
| Baptist Church podcasts can also play a role in | | | | all represent some of the most popular companion |
| fundraising. Now that it has become relatively easy | | | | podcasts for network television shows. |
| for listeners to subscribe to podcasts without much | | | | The Guiding Light Podcast has also inspired some |
| technical knowledge, churches and other religious | | | | unusual companions. A number of independent |
| organizations can reach out to listeners for online | | | | podcast producers are using old-time radio drama |
| donations. Some podcasts use toll free telephone | | | | recording techniques to produce daily audio soap |
| numbers to collect donations. But the most effective | | | | operas. These soap opera podcasts range from a |
| churches and charities use free or inexpensive tools | | | | few minutes a day to a few full hours each week, |
| from companies like PayPal to boost the amount in | | | | offering commuters and soap opera junkies more |
| their collection baskets each week. | | | | material to choose from. |