Popular UK forum Britcaster is to close 15th December, it was announced yesterday. Neil Dixon the man behind it, who now works for Adam Curry and Ron Bloom’s PodShow in the UK, has decided to pull the plug after two years.
Dixon cited reasons of having insufficient time available to manage the forum. However reports that all is not well in the US company’s operations continue to emerge, with several notable podcasters having made an early exit, questions being raised about expenditure rationale, and low levels of revenue share among PodShow signees. Dixon has previously denied that PodShow have put him under pressure to bring Britcaster into their expanding podcast empire.
A new UK Community Podcast forum, National Grid, has been set up by the UK Podcasters Association. National Grid is UK-centric but open to podcasters from any country.
8 users commented in " Britcaster Podcast Forum To Close "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback“Dixon cited reasons of having insufficient time available to manage the forum. However reports that all is not well in the US company’s operations continue to emerge,” … this appears to be a non-sequitur or an unfounded insinutation.
What would the founder of the UKPA, fierce critic of Podshow, and creator of the hastily erected new forum for UK podcasters have to gain from posting this piece?
All in all, a piece of self-promotion, shallowly disguised as news reporting.
The reasons for the Britcaster Forums closing can be found at this thread announcement:
http://britcaster.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2056
Additional rationale can be easily gathered by reviewing the last six months of threads, many of which spiralled into an unpleasant, and often abusive, environment.
The above story by deekdeekster (aka Dean Whitbread) is based on his own interpretation of the facts.
The independent Britcaster Forums have been online for 18 months and have no connection with Podshow Inc.
Thanks to all who supported us and good luck to future forums in the UK podcasting space.
The two people who have commented above are 1. the wife and 2. a business colleague of Dixon, and of course, they would say that, wouldn’t they!
The facts as reported are based on first-hand interviews, news which is already in the public domain, and private correspondence, and I stand by every word.
True, I am “the wife” but I’m also an independent mind and moderator for Britcaster. We don’t always see eye-to-eye Dean, this is true, but my marital status is not the reason for my comment.
Sincerely, much luck with your endeavour. It can be a tough crowd out there.
I will respond to this as a Podshow podcaster. Anytime you’d actually like to get the facts straight, my email box is open. Until then, let me dispel a few oversights in your posting:
I’m sorry, I must have missed this somewhere in the blogosphere. Where are the references that Podshow is failing? I haven’t seen those accounts anywhere. The things I do see is continued promotion, constantly increasing revenue stream, and a consistently growing audience. Exactly what I signed up for.
This is ancient history already. The only instances of anyone leaving is Mark Hunter from Tartan Podcast, and the MommyCasters. Though I miss working directly with Mark as a friend and fellow podcaster, his impact in leaving Podshow was not significant. I personally BEGGED him to stay with Podshow, but he felt impatient and decided to go it alone. The same with the Mommycasters. If they can do better on their own, then god bless and good luck. Ask each of them in a year if they regret their decision. I think we all know what the answer will be.
What you don’t highlight in your post is the Podshow success stories. I am one of MANY. If you want to know something just ask, don’t assume.
Marcus Couch
The Scene Zine
Podshow Music Rewind
Since when did truth exist only in the blogosphere? I did my research using the old fashioned methods of “telephone” and “listening”.
I am assuming nothing.
If that is the case, I would investigate the validity and accuracy of your sources. It seems they have lead you on with false accusations.
Hey Marcus – I’m just a little bit more sussed than to accept things on face value. Nobody has been “falsely accusing” anyone. However, it’s clear to see that the UK community has effectively been now split along factional lines, and it is quite reasonable to draw conclusions from the current situation.
This blog allows comments – such comments are the tried and tested way of challenging a blog post’s veracity. So, why did the “defense” extend into the mainly non-PodShow new forum? Why the flames?
If I am so far from the truth, why the enormous fuss?
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