Combining the words "iPod" (Apple's wildly popular portable digital media device) and "broadcast", podcasting is a method of publishing audio or video content to a website and making it available for download into a device such as an iPod.

Podcasting is particularly suited for up-to-30-minute audio segments based on current standards of bandwidth, device storage, and download speeds. Many radio stations provide compilations of recent broadcasts in the form of podcasts that can be quickly and easily downloaded by listeners into their computer or device  for listening on the way to work, for example. Music samplers, lectures, daily readings, sermons are among the types of podcasts gaining increasing popularity.

Podcasts are  often provided free as a way to build site popularity and develop an audience, but  "premium" content of special value to listeners may be offered on a purchase or subscription basis.

MainstreamNetwork.com makes it easy to operate your own Podcast service at highly affordable rates, starting at just $5/month. 

Podcasting Plans  from MainstreamNetwork.com  Price
BASIC:  100 MB Storage, Unlimited Bandwidth  $10/month
ADVANCED:  250 MB Storage, Unlimited Bandwidth  $20/month
PRO:  500MB Storage, Unlimited Bandwidth  $30/month