In Portable Media Expo and Podcasting Conference 2005 in Ontario, California, Bridge Ratings presented a study about podcasting. The projections for the user growth in the podcast universe (podcastosphere) were based on interviews with radio listeners in ten national markets.

The study estimates that 4.8 million persons have at some time during 2005 downloaded a podcast from either a radio station or other source. iTunes was referenced as the most often accessed portal for podcast downloads. This 4.8 million estimate is up from 820,000 podcast users in 2004.

It is estimated that by 2010 podcast audience growth will reach a conservative 45 million users who will have ever listened to a podcast. Aggressive estimates place this number closer to 75 million by this date.

In 2005, 5 in 300 (1.6 percent) have ever downloaded podcast (5 million users), of which 20 percent of them download podcast on a weekly basis. Average user spends 4 hours/ month listening to podcasts.

The portable media device industry also is growing at a rapid pace, considering now that less than 20% listen to their podcast downloads on an MP3 player or other digital device.

Source: Bridge Ratings: The Podcasting Outlook.
See also: Podcast statistics.

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