PSN - FAQ

FAQ

Top Ten reasons to broadcast your podcast on the Podcast Satellite Network:

10.

If Satellite Radio is good for Mr. Podcast, Adam Curry, AND even for Howard Stern, it's got to be great for you!

Your podcast can go where nobody in your family has gone before!

Dang! ..Your podcast can go where nobody you know has gone before!

Set your podcast apart from the masses of podcasts that don't have a satellite radio broadcast!

Where else can a podcaster broadcast to millions who are still asking the question: "What is a podcast?"

Instantly acquire a footprint to make Bigfoot blush. We are talking bigger than the Continent of North America! ..Really!

Attract advertising dollars to your show like email attracts spam! [Even hook up with advertisers via PSN.]

If you miss this opportunity you will know what we mean when we say: "$1 per minute is cheaper than free!"

You can be one of the few, the proud and the brave to get a lock on $1 per minute BEFORE Satellite Radio airtime at this unbelievably low rate is SOLD OUT!

And now...

... The Number 1 reason you need to broadcast your podcast on the Podcast Satellite Network is..

(drum roll please)..

You are podcasting because you want to be heard, right? ...Well, here ya go!

Now, let's move on to the questions ...

Are there any podcasts PSN does not accept?

We are not the podcast police, so will not be censoring your podcasts. We do have some limits, however. Off-beat is ok. However, we don't want to be involved with anything that falls in the category of patently obscene, hateful, evil or really terrible. We also don't want to be arguing with anyone about their show. Therefore, we reserve the right to politely drop any show from our line-up without explanation. Every broadcasting network has a similar rule, by the way. Actual experience is that programs are dropped very rarely. That is expected to be our norm as well, since the vast majority of podcasts do not fall in the patently obscene, hateful, evil or really terrible category. If your show is one of the offending few (you know who you are) then please don't sign up. Now, on to the good stuff!

Does PSN broadcast on subscription Satellite Radio, such as XM and SIRUS, or what?

PSN does not broadcast on subscription Satellite Radio. We broadcast on FREE Satellite Radio stations known in the industry as Free To Air (FTA) stations.

What does "Free To Air" mean?

Free To Air broadcasts may be picked up by anyone with a satellite dish for rebroadcast or general access. Major news organizations, like ABC and FOX, for example, use them to supply their feeds to affiliate stations across the country. Universities, government agencies, and virtually all types of organizations utilize FTA heavily. There are also commercial radio and TV broadcasts originating on FTA stations which are often rebroadcast on any AM, FM, Shortwave or TV station with a dish and a desire to rebroadcast them. Consumers may also tune into FTA broadcasts directly, free of charge. A good online source of FTA help for consumers can be found at forums like FTAtalk.com and abadss.com that keep popping up as more people get involved with FTA satellite. For an overview of FTA you could read this article from Wikipedia. For an overview of all cable and satellite services, including a good section on FTA you can read this article at cybercollege.com.

How does the listener access PSN on FTA Satellite Radio?

We broadcast on Ku band. This requires a dish and hardware which, depending upon the model you buy, may cost less than $150.00. After that initial equipment outlay there are no monthly fees for either FTA Satellite Radio or FTA TV. In addition, our shows are also streamed via the internet.

Why haven't I heard of FTA Satellite before?

Satellite services including Dish Network, Direct TV, XM and SIRUS Satellite Radio are subscription services that must all advertise heavily to attract new customers. That's why we have all heard of them. FTA, like the internet, offers free listener and/or viewer access to whomever wishes to equip themselves to consume the free content. Just as there is no central body advertising the internet itself there is also no central body advertising FTA Satellite Radio and TV. That's why FTA is not yet a household word. Trust us. It WILL be!

Who is listening to FTA?

Consumers are always looking for a good deal! Think about it. Would you rather get your equipment free, then pay monthly fees for the rest of your life - or would you rather buy your own low cost equipment as a one time expense and then get your content free forever? The basic FTA deal is compelling for the same reason that the internet is compelling - and that open source software is compelling. Everybody starts on the internet with something like AOL. This is equivalent to starting in satellite with a satellite subscription service. However, most people don't stay with AOL. Eventually they figure out that they can get everything they want from the internet without paying the big bucks month after month. Whenever there is a lower cost alternative the people WILL eventually find it and use it. That's why consumers are responding to the FTA opportunity by purchasing the equipment associated with FTA broadcasts. Google "FTA satellite equipment" and you will see that large numbers of consumers are creating a boom in equipment sales. For example, one of the many vendors of FTA equipment offers this map of their company's sales. Keep in mind that this map is just one company's sales and does not represent all equipment sold by all vendors, which would certainly fill the entire map of North America! Adding to the boost in equipment sales is the introduction of low cost equipment interfacing FTA satellite with your PC. A popular example is the Starbox at only $89 which interfaces with your PC via USB to bring you FTA digital radio and TV of CD quality as well as satellite Internet access. One of the selling points listed for this equipment is: "Listen to digital radio: Enjoy the digital satellite radio stations in stereo & playback any time you like. The audio effect is near CD quality."
More and more people are using this sort of low cost but high tech equipment to listen to FTA radio.

Is there content on FTA that the consumer wants?

Apparently there must be, or this FTA equipment boom would not exist! Drawing the internet analogy again: newbies signing up for the first time will pay a premium for AOL because it neatly organizes everything for them, making access easier. This is like a subscription satellite service. You just click through the channels and it is all entirely predictable. FTA is more random like the internet is. After getting our feet wet, many of us prefer the adventure of striking out on our own! On FTA you will find major feeds from the big broadcasters and you will find a hodge-podge of multi-ethnic and alternative programming to satisfy a wide variety of needs and interests. There are also English language stations broadcasting content of interest to the average consumer. These stations operate according to a format very similar to the AM and FM stations you are already familiar with. These are the sort of stations we broadcast on. Here is a list of some English language stations, to give you an idea of the variety that's out there.

OK, now that I know what FTA is about, what is The Podcast Satellite Network about?

We are a group of FTA broadcasters who couldn't help but see that podcasting and FTA can be a marriage made in heaven! People love listening to podcasting for the same reasons people love FTA. It is fresh. It is diverse. It is real! We think that FTA consumers, most of whom are not now podcast consumers, would love to hear podcast programming over their satellite dish! This represents a huge new listening audience for podcasters in addition to the podcast audience they are already reaching. In addition, local radio stations that recognize how great this is may rebroadcast our FTA podcast programming, expanding the potential audience into local markets!

Great idea! But how can you sell airtime on satellite for only $1 per minute to podcasters?

Frankly, we don't know how long this bargain price will last. Right now, because of our connections in the business, we are able to obtain blocks of airtime which we can break up for sale by the minute at this low price. We see demand for FTA growing at such an exponential rate, however, that supply and demand will eventually push the rates up to a level more in keeping with the huge coverage and growing audience. We know this sounds like sales hype because everyone selling anything tells you "now is the time to buy." In this case, however, we are basing this statement on actual market conditions - not hype.

OK, for a buck I'm obviously going to sign up. Then what?

After you sign up we will email you a welcome letter containing preliminary information, including how and where to upload your show. Once we have your show we will assign it a slot on our broadcast schedule, which you will receive by email in advance of your broadcast. Then we will convert your podcast to the necessary audio format and put it in queue for uplink and broadcast at the scheduled time. At that point you will want to post a link on your site (which we will provide) to allow your site visitors can listen to your Satellite Radio stream at your scheduled broadcast time. Include the map of your huge coverage area and full information regarding your Satellite broadcast on your site. I don't think we need to tell you what this will do for your standing with your web visitors!

Will my podcast be on Telstar 5?

Your show will likely be on Telstar 5, but could be on another satellite depending on availability at the time of your order. Placement cannot be determined in advance of your initial order since it is dependant on scheduling factors at the time of your order. This is why your broadcast schedule is sent to you after your order has been processed. New programs may be moved a bit from one week to the next as the schedule is adjusted. After you become a "regular" with us we will normally give you the same slot on the same satellite channel each week. We say "normally" because we don't have ultimate control over all factors. For example, if a meteor shower hits your satellite your show will necessarily be moved or cancelled! It sounds terrible, we know. The truth is though, such problems are very rare. Most of the time performance and predictability are amazingly high.

Where can I find a banner or graphic to link to PodSat.Net?

A..

Right here.

When should I sign up?

Do it right now. Here's why. First of all, you should lock in the low introductory price. Secondly, there are a limited number of satellites and there is a limited amount of airtime available on those satellites. Once the schedule is full it simply will not be possible to sell airtime to new clients. At that point this ship will have sailed with those clients who are already aboard. If you want to be on this voyage then get aboard now. Thirdly, there is the advertising factor. We refer advertisers to quality podcasters whom we have come to know and trust over time. It is in your financial interest to sign up now to position yourself to receive some of those advertising dollars.