–Lead Investor DAG Ventures Joins Original Investors Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia and Sherpalo–

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (September 29, 2006) – PodShow, Inc., the digital media entertainment network whose properties include PodShow+, PodShow Podcast Network, PodShowPDN, Podcast Alley, Castblaster, the Podsafe Music Network and, most recently BTPodShow, today announced that the company has raised a second round of venture funding from new and original investors, totaling $15M, led by DAG Ventures. This announcement comes on the heels of the BT PodShow (www.btpodshow.com) press conference where the companies disclosed plans for a co-branded service for the UK and Ireland that goes beyond the Internet to include initiatives like BT Vision, a television-based home entertainment initiative.

“PodShow is emerging as a new type of media company, driven by the passionate demand of a growing audience and the increasingly available treasure-trove of high-quality content created outside of the Hollywood system,” says Ron Bloom, CEO and co-founder of PodShow. “This new investment will help us more aggressively respond to the increasing demand of our global audience to find one place where they can create, consume and directly relate to the best in independently produced and mainstream media… and more importantly… to join the show!”

As the company has grown, PodShow has moved deeper into producing its own content, offering access to a wider range of third-party audio, music and video, and providing a complete, single-click platform for the creation, discovery and sharing of killer content. At the same time the Company has been working to provide broader and more reliable distribution on the Internet while initiating plans to move its content into the home and across all mobile devices.

“Analysts tend to think of podcasting as a vertical so that they can attempt to quantify trends and make predictions,” continued Bloom. “Audiences cannot be that simply quantified. PodShow is a media company that is bridging the gap between mainstream media and user-generated content, giving audiences great entertainment and a way to connect, share and contribute.”

Receiving interest from multiple investment groups, PodShow closed this round of funding very quickly. Management selected DAG due to their familiarity with the sector, and unique investment approach.

“We see PodShow as more than a podcasting company. They are tomorrow’s media company, providing the best in new entertainment, music and video on virtually any device, and building lasting and valuable relationships with their audiences.” says Tom Goodrich, Managing Director of DAG. “DAG recognizes PodShow’s proven ability to grow an aggregate audience of millions, attract top programming, develop new media properties and create strong partnerships with Madison Avenue brand marketers and leaders in infrastructure and distribution.”

About PodShow, Inc.
The PodShow digital media entertainment network addresses an audience of tens-of-millions and is comprised of PodShow+, PodShow Podcast Network, PodShowPDN, Podcast Alley, Castblaster and the Podsafe Music Network. PodShow+ makes independently produced media more accessible to an audience of millions, provides resources for producers, and enables marketers to take part in the podcast explosion. BT PodShow is a co-branded service from PodShow LTD in partnership with BT, enabling consumers in the UK and Ireland to create, connect and share their content – both video and audio – with an audience of millions around the world. PodShow offers professional production and directory services to major media companies and traditional businesses. PodShowPDN™ is the first high-performance content delivery network meeting the specific needs of podcasting, delivering a comprehensive creation, production, and delivery and monetization solution for independent podcasters and mainstream media companies. In every way, PodShow has greatly simplified the production experience for artists and listeners around the world. PodShow is a privately held company, backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Sherpalo Ventures and DAG Ventures. For more on PodShow, visit: http://www.podshow.com, and for all queries visit: http://www.podshow.com/contactus.html.

PodShow, PodShow+, Podsafe Music Network, Podcast Alley, and PodShowPDN are trademarks of PodShow, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

by Annelise Berendt

BT has announced a partnership with the creators of the US PodShow Network to launch BT PodShow, a British version of the broadband Internet site that enables creative individuals, media production companies and record labels to distribute their content direct to consumers.

Comment: This is an interesting and strong move for BT. By partnering with the creators of a successful venture in the US, BT is getting know-how and expertise in the user-generated content (UGC) arena, and most importantly expertise that knows how to monetise UGC through solid advertising relationships. PodShow in the US is funded by big-brand advertisers more akin to the TV broadcast network model, rather than the click-through approach of the Internet. This model will be replicated in the UK, although BT says that subscription may become a possibility further down the line.

For PodShow’s founders looking to enter the UK market, BT provides a readymade broadband customer base, a reliable network and over the longer term potentially a way into the networked home. PodShow will become part of BT Vision’s IPTV offering, due to launch later this year, and will be offered to BT Broadband users, as well as being available to all UK Internet users via a URL. It will also be available on mobile. BT also represents a trusted name with which to draw in the big-brand advertising community.

But whether using the BT brand is such a good idea in terms of drawing in the punters remains to be seen. Tagging a corporate giant’s name onto a UGC service may reduce its appeal to the generation of consumers-turned-content-producers that has built the social networking giants including MySpace, YouTube and Bebo. BT will never be a “cool” brand, and BT PodShow is right not to attempt to replicate these sites.

BT says that the venture is a hybrid between social networking and a media network; essentially it is using the social networking element to support the aggregation of quality content. But getting the message across to consumers as to exactly what this service offers them may prove more difficult than expected.

>> Read the Original Article at OVUM now

By Saeed Shah
Published: 14 September 2006

BT is launching a podcasting service to give the nation a platform to show off its talents (or lack of) by making videos and audio clips available on a new internet service.

The telecoms giant has teamed up with US PodShow Network to provide the service, to be available to all UK internet users. In the US, some of the shows on the website – produced by a mixture of amateurs and professionals – have a loyal following and get 10 million downloads a month.

BT PodShow is making a nationwide call for aspiring film producers, musicians, presenters and DJs from across the UK to submit audio and video content. The best material will feature on “The Show” section of the website.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Rory Cellan-Jones
BBC industry correspondent

BT has unveiled plans to launch a major podcasting site, the latest move aimed at turning the phone and internet firm into a complete multi-media provider.

The UK’s BT has teamed up with two US entrepreneurs whose Podshow Network has won an audience of millions.

Together, they will launch a UK version called BT PodShow.

Podshow boss Ron Bloom said the site took off because there is a huge demand from users who are “sick of TV, sick of radio and want their own programming.”

It now has 60,000 podcasts featuring video and music – some made by amateurs, other by established media companies.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mark Sweney
Wednesday September 13, 2006
MediaGuardian.co.uk

BT is launching an online “social media network” that will combine elements of the video site YouTube with clips and shows from the entertainment and music industry.

The site, called BT PodShow, is being launched as a partnership with the 18-month-old US-based PodShow.

The website is being positioned as a hybrid between the likes of MySpace and YouTube and fulfilling the online aims of traditional companies such as MTV and ITV.

The idea is that the site will grow to become an entertainment hub featuring established artists, mainstream media outlets as well as individuals and independent producers.

It will provide a mixture of audio and video shows in “channels” for users to sign up for via their own “online media centre”.

One aim is to eventually provide the service to mobiles and possibly a “best of” show on its soon-to-launch BT Vision broadband TV service.

Read the rest of this entry »

–BTPodShow invites the UK to Join the Show–

London England, September 13, 2006 – BT today announced it has teamed up with US media entrepreneurs PodShow™ to launch BT PodShow, a British version of the hugely popular US PodShow Network with extra content and functionality produced specifically for the UK market.

BT Podshow will be accessible to all UK internet users, and enables creative individuals, media production companies and record labels to share their content – both video and audio – with an audience of millions in the UK and around the world.

BT Podshow is also launching a nationwide call for aspiring film producers, musicians, presenters and DJ’s from across the UK to submit audio and video content, enabling them to ‘get in on the show’.

The website, www.btpodshow.com, is already generating considerable interest from bloggers and media producers alike. Based on the success of PodShow in the US, BT PodShow is expecting thousands of talented people to contribute material with the best set to feature on “The Show” section of the website.

PodShow was launched in early 2005 by media entrepreneurs Ron Bloom and Adam Curry – the latter commonly known as the “Podfather”. In recent months, podcasting has emerged from a home-grown medium to become the epicentre of high-quality new media entertainment, hugely popular with both consumers and marketers. The top shows on the PodShow Network already garner millions of downloads with content in over 130 categories and multiple languages.

In July 2006, PodShow launched PodShow+, enabling consumers to create, share and connect with digital media and giving its audience access to more than 60,000 podcasts as well as a world of video, music and other entertainment in a range of formats. BT has now joined forces with this team to produce a UK version of PodShow+.

BT PodShow will initially launch by inviting UK talent to contribute to The Show. It will expand in the future to become an extensive source of entertainment, featuring thousands of hours of material both by established artists and mainstream media outlets as well as by individuals and independent producers.

BT PodShow will provide users with their own personal online media centres where they can post their own content and interact with others locally and across the globe, both benefiting from and creating great entertainment. Users will also be able to enjoy their favourite shows on any connected device, from PC to mobile and even TV. Converged services such as BT Fusion and BT Movio have already shown that traditional barriers are coming down and it is expected that some BT PodShow content will feature on BT Vision.

Speaking at the launch today, Gavin Patterson BT Consumer MD, said: “Podcasting really does illustrate the true power of broadband. What is great about it is that all you need is a way to record audio or video, a computer and an internet connection.

“BT recognises the importance of this exciting new world of communications and is leading the way in the UK by partnering with innovators, including PodShow, to explore opportunities for new cutting edge products and services.

“What we are doing by launching www.btpodshow.com is not only helping to bring a new and exciting form of entertainment to the UK market but also providing a platform to promote new talent who may otherwise struggle to find recognition.”

Ron Bloom CEO and Co-Founder of PodShow added: “We are moving from a world of broadcasting to a world of ALL-casting, where everyone wants a reliable way to create, share and connect. There is an incredible amount of talent and programming out there that never sees the light of day, because there is simply no way for traditional media to provide the choice that the audience craves. BT and PodShow are ideal partners to provide the great range of incredible content on the highest-quality broadband network”.

Adam Curry, President and Co-founder of PodShow continued: “I believe everyone has the desire to express themselves creatively but they have simply lacked the platform on which to do it. Some people dream of stardom. Others simply want the chance to share their creativity with family and friends. Over the past year, we have helped many people in the states become new media stars, and, with BT as a partner, I can’t wait to bring the Show to the UK!”

ENDSNOTES TO EDITORS

For further information on PodShow
Inquiries about this news release should be made to Aaron Burcell: Office +1 415 247 8612, Cell +1 650 740 3134 or e-mail aaron@podshow.com.

For further information on BT
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.

About PodShow, Inc.
PodShow is the world’s premier network for the creation, discovery and distribution of podcasts and other independently produced media, assembling the leading communities in podcasting, as well as a host of the most popular personalities and shows in new media. PodShow also offers professional production and directory services to major media companies and traditional businesses. PodShowPDN is the first high-performance content delivery network meeting the specific needs of podcasting, delivering a comprehensive creation, production, monetization and delivery solution for independent producers and mainstream media companies. PodShow makes content more accessible to a growing global audience, provides resources for producers, and enables marketers to take part in the new media explosion. PodShow’s Podsafe Music Network (www.podsafemusicnetwork.com) is a leading destination for listener consumption of “podsafe” music as well as the producer resource for licensing music for inclusion in podcasts and other forms of media PodShow is a privately-held company, backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital and Sherpalo Ventures. Operating in the UK, PodShow LTD is entirely owned by PodShow, Inc. For more, visit: www.podshow.com.

About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group’s revenue was £19, 514 million with profit before taxation of £2,040 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt