With respect to length, breaking up the shows into their story constituents is especially well suited for the podcasting medium. If I were to “download” all of Morning Edition to my iPod, it could be downloaded as a series of files from which I could simply advance to the next story if one didn’t tickle my fancy. Indeed, as much as I love to listen to Diane Rehm, there are often times I long for a “Next Story” button.

I certainly want to support my local affiliate, WBAA, but they really make it hard on their digital listeners. They only provide Windows format streaming – I don’t do Windows – and no podcasts. I often travel to Chicago where their signal does not reach and Chicago’s affiliates broadcast different shows at different times. Thus, I can’t listen to a continuous show. Podcasting would solve this traveling problem handily.

Indeed, I would be willing to pay a modest subscription fee to get this service. The fee could be split between NPR and member affiliate based on my zip code. That way WBAA, gets a piece of the action, and everyone is happy.

There are solutions here – NPR and its affiliates are going to have to get together and more effectively address this new technology. Disruptive technology, such as podcasting, is good for the public and the industry. Shaking up the status quo is necessary from time to time.

If there was ever content that is ideal for podcasting, the NPR flagship shows are it – Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Diane Rehm, Marketplace, etc. I’d dealy love to download these shows to my iPod and walk off with them to listen to at my convenience. Ms. Thomas is dead wrong on the lack of demand. She’s welcome to email me – I’ll provide her with a number of scenarios where full show podcasts downloads would answer a consumer demand out here in the midwest.

Also, NPR provides excerpts of their shows. Why not the whole show? I can get the whole of Meet The Press, ABC’s This Week, and PBS’s Washtington Week as podcasts. CBS is following NPR’s model and offering excerpts of 60 Minutes – I no longer subscribe to them. It’s easy to skip ahead when a story you don’t want comes on. However, you can’t restore missing content when you’re only given an excerpt or highlight reel. NPR and CBS just don’t understand the medium.

The real story is that NPR is following Hollywood’s model of being very hesitant at providing their content to the public in the most popular format. What’s their reason? It’s not like you can rerun news and get more advertising revenue.