Gigavox: The First Podcasting Supergroup?
Jul 14th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Audio Podcasting, Podcasting Networks 
A new company promises to be the first podcasting supergroup, bringing together two influential pioneers of podcasting, Doug Kaye (IT Conversations, The Conversations Network) and Michael Geoghegan, right, (Reel Reviews, Grape Radio, and the DisneyLand Podcast).During the Gnomedex 6.0 conference last weekend, Kaye announced the launch of GigaVox Media, Inc., a for-profit partner company of the non-profit The Conversations Network. Kaye describes the relationship between GigaVox and its non-profit sister as a “hybrid business model” where the two sides work in parallel: “together with complementary objectives.”
Kaye will remain at the helm of The Conversations Network as founder and CEO, and will now serve as CTO at GigaVox Media. Michael Geoghegan will be the CEO of GigaVox Media.
“I think it’s the ability now to ramp-up production of shows on both networks,” said Kaye. “Things have been on hold a bit as we worked out all the details, but now we can get back to work on new channels.”
“I also look forward to having some $$ on the GVM side so that we can get more help writing the code that drives both of these sites,” added Kaye.
His partner, Michael Geoghegan, the new CEO of GigaVox Media, commented, “Over the last three years IT Conversations has developed the tools, technology and talent to establish itself as a leader in new media. The creation of GigaVox enables us to leverage those strengths and focus on expanding the the compliment of quality content we deliver to our listeners everyday.”
According to the the company’s announcment, GigaVox Media and The Conversations Network will do many similar things. Both companies will produce podcasts of spoken-word events, as Kaye has organized for several years.
IT Conversations, the Podcast Academy and some new channels such as Open Source Conversations (launching next month) will join GigaVox Media, so they can capitalize on the support of commercial sponsorships. The Conversations Network will continue to be the home of Social Innovation Conversations and other channels better suited to the non-profit world.
GigaVox Media will own the proprietary podcast software that was originally created to produce IT Conversations, which it will continue to develop and refine. This software will be licensed to The Conversations Network, but “otherwise the companies will be very separate,” says Kaye.
