What is the deal with the Apple iTunes directory I keep getting calls for help over the iTunes Podcast directory, People are loosing subscribers! I am getting desperate pleas for help because iTunes is either removing their shows or things mysteriously quit working. Apple has started to cause more harm than good, and they better get a handle on things in a hurry or their are going to be a lot of pissed off podcasters.
All it takes is having a major show have their feed get dropped or something worse, and the word will be out to abandon ship. Tonight I started to do some investigating to figure out what the heck is happening. First thing I noticed is that they are not honoring their own RSS specification, this is in direct correlation to sub-categories.
I found shows that had category iTunes tags for education stuck in technology. I found feeds with 100’s of validation errors with no podcasts in the feeds listed. I found listings in which their was no longer a RSS feed or even websites still on line. I found them honoring some category tags on some shows while at the same time ignoring others. I see the continued abuse by large numbers of podcasters working the special characters in front of their titles to be listed first.
I had to laugh though I found one show listed no less that 18 times in different categories. I looked at the guys RSS feed and he had entered every major category and subcategory and had been listed in nearly every instance. To top it off his last podcast submission 5 months ago!
Apple you obviously do not care about this directory, or you would have invested a few hours and cleaned up this huge mess you have on your hands. Podcasters try searching on your keywords that you have entered for your shows, see if they show up all I can say is good luck!
The commercial shows they definitely get taken care of, and they get all the premium spots on the website. Apple has abandoned those who started this evolution and are not taking care of those that made the medium what it is today. The Apple podcast directory looks like it is being maintained by a third grader instead of a billion dollar company.
I am personally sick and tired of answering e-mails saying sorry that’s the way it is because they just don’t listen, and if they do they never acknowledge that they are listening unless it comes out of Adam Curry’s mouth. Fix your damn directory Apple!
You know I think it a little strange that iTunes bowed down to the Networks and raised the prices of TV shows available for download. Which IMO should be free( And with commercials if need be) because 90% of people has already paid to watch this stuff on their TVs. But to my point, I think the directory is at risk…High risk…Imagine, after the first of the year when iTunes start raising the prices of music like they have done with video, from .99 to as much as 2.50 per song, and they will…I can also imagine the Record Companys saying to Apple to let that Podcast thing of a Directory kinda fade but keep dead links up, this will be a deterrent to others to even try and get a podcast, So therefore we don’t have to worry about that new medium getting any stronger and will also be more likely to buy our music and our podcast. So I don’t see Apple doing anything to fix this, matter of fact it is going to get much worse where eventually there will not even be a Podcast directory other than the Network and pay to play type (The old Buy Button) So in short Apple is saying forget the little guy. There’s no money in them.
My 2 cents worth.
>>DanT.