Some thoughts on the Motorola deal

It's been a huge day. Not only am I preparing to leave for New York in the morning, we've had a lot of great emails, phone calls and text messages from friends and supporters about the Motorola deal. In discussing it with people and the media, I've mentioned that this is a significant milestone in the history of citizen media. I think there are three key points to keep in mind.

 
1. Remember, TPN is a scrappy little 10-month old start-up, headquartered in   Australia, with no funding, no media celebrity at the helm, no alliance with a   major media company, nothing. The founders aren't independently wealthy from a   dot com liquidity event. We're just regular guys who got bored with our day   jobs and decided this whole podcasting thing could be some fun. For a small   citizen media company like TPN to sign a strategic marketing deal with a   global A-list advertiser like Motorola is a major event in the development of   citizen media.
 
2. Until now, the advertisers supporting podcasting have been minor-league   advertisers... software companies, hosting companies, perhaps a beverage   company, etc. Motorola is a major-league player and hopefully their entrance   into podcast advertising signals the beginning of the big guys taking an   interest in reaching out to the podcast-listening audience. Hardcore nutters   that you are. :-)
 
3. The other thing to note is that the division of Motorola that did this   deal is based in AUSTRALIA. Now, why is this important? Because large Aussie   enterprises (even Aussie divisions of international enterprises) are usually   two years behind the US in supporting new trends. Mucho kudos to the Motorola   team in Australia for getting behind this deal.

Thanks again to everyone for the support emails and thanks most of all to the awesome TPN hosts! Without those terrific guys and gals, TPN would be nothing more than a vision. Their support and loyalty over the last 10 months has been fantastic. I'm so glad that I get to spend my days working with such a talented, passionate and positive bunch of folks from around the globe.

Oh, and thanks to the great team in Melbourne and Perth from Pixel Ink Media. Mano and his team (Mick, Rudy & Dave) have worked their ASSES off over the last couple of weeks trying to stablize our hosting platform. We've pulled several all-nighters in the process and they've had to put up with Mick and I bitching, moaning, and calling them at all hours. Thanks guys, you rock.

Finally, here's what the blogosphere is saying about the deal.

OKAY. I'm off to NEW YORK CITY.

Comments

[Todd]

Cameron I have a few comments, to suggest that other podcasting advertising deals have been with insignificant companies is a insult.

Sure we are all happy that you got a advertising deal. Isnt the first wont be the last. Obviously companies that advertise on Superbowls and companies that have more advertising deals with podcasters than any other companies you consider insignificant.

I dont agree with your comments in numbered pargraph two. You should not talk down to companies that have been putting money in podcasters pockets for a while.

I wont talk about the deals that we have signed at techpodcasts.com but I will say that we have put multi-thousands of dollars in our podcasters pockets. Addtionally we have returned ROI to that vendor and we are re-signing what you call minor-league players becasue they are happy and because as a network we are reaching 1.2 million ears every month with 23 shows.

It's ok to be proud of the deal but at the same time dont insult the rest of the community and any advertiser that has been bold enought to enter the space.

[Cameron Reilly]

Hey Todd, I certainly wasn't meaning to be insulting at all. I've said on record many times that the deals you guys have done are great. All I was trying to say was that Motorola is a big name advertiser and it's great to see companies of that size entering the field.