Podcast media files are big. Some might suggest you keep only the most recent shows online and in your RSS 2.0 feed. But your listeners likely won't care about server space and bandwidth issues. If they find a connection with your podcast, some of them are going to want your older podcast media files as well.
As a podcaster, you're in a difficult position. On the one hand, you want to keep your listeners happy and share your previous shows, music, art, voice, and ideas with them. But unless you're getting paid by the listener, happy listeners don't pay your server costs. If listeners want your old files, they'll likely be sensitive to your constraints and are happy go through a few reasonable hoops as long as they get what they need. Here are a few novel suggestions on how to deal with this good-to-have problem:
- Set up a rotating archive feed.
- Use the Internet archive.
- Rent a new server and charge for access.
Set up a rotating archive feed
An archive feed takes a bit of dedication on your part. Unless you're completely maxed out on your server space, you likely have room for one more podcast media file. This method takes that unutilized space and puts it to good use satisfying your hungry audience.
Every day or two, upload one of your previous files (because no podcaster ever deletes any of his or her own podcasts from their personal computer) to your Web server and create a custom RSS 2.0 feed just for this file. Meanwhile, on your regular podcast, mention that you have a new feed created for archived shows and tell all interested listeners to subscribe to that new feed as well. Repeat this process every few days. You may wish to start from your first show so you don't forget where you're at!
Use the Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation of digital content. It provides the service free of charge, but it has some catches:
- The archives are a community center. If your podcast is protected by exclusive copyright, it can't be contained in the archive. Creative Commons licenses are allowed, however, and even recommended.
- Joining the Internet Archive is free, and there is no charge to hold your content. Notice we said hold and not host. Think of the Internet Archive as a library. Content is added to a library for the benefit of everybody. Hosting companies are at your beck and call. Librarians are not.
- As a free service, it offers no guarantees of uptime and reliability. This is a non-profit organization; so don't store your critical podcast media files here. But storing previous editions is another matter all together.
Rent a new server and charge for access
If your content has a good following, your listening audience may be willing to pay for access to previous content. Several syndicated radio programs and magazines take this approach now, providing most recent episodes as a free download but charging visitors and listeners to access older editions of the content.
While this idea may smack in the face of the free nature of podcasts to date, nothing is stopping you from making a "for fee" podcast feed where you can house all your old episodes. The major podcatching clients iPodderX and iPodder Lemon both support secure connections.
| 
