release below:

Monday 24 April, 07:00 am. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An tImeall, the daily podcast in the Irish language, today becomes the first independent Irish podcast to cross-over to traditional radio, as it begins a syndicated run on Galway city's college community station, Flirt FM. The 15 minute show will air each weekday at 5:30pm

Podcasting is the term used to describe the distribution of sound and video files on the internet for use on portable digital players. Podcasts are subscribable, meaning that users can configure "podcatching" software such as Apple's iTunes to watch for updates to selected podcasts and download them automatically to the users PC or mobile media device.

Podcasts are growing in popularity because they offer the audience greater choice of programming as well as increased convenience in terms of how, when and where they choose to listen or view. Podcasting also lowers the barrier to entry for content producers, allowing anyone to distribute their programming to a worldwide audience independently of tranmission networks and programme schedules.

Recent months have seen a flurry of activity among traditional broadcasters eager to join the podcasting parade, and many popular Irish radio programmes are now also available as podcasts. Until now however, no independent podcast had made the transition to the airwaves in Ireland.

An tImeall is published at imeall.blogspot.com. It was the first podcast in the Irish language, and one of the first in Ireland. It's mission is to serve the worldwide community of Irish speakers and to encourage the development of online networks to promote the language. Over 120 episodes have been produced since last July, and last month the site was honoured for it's use of Irish at the inaugural Irish Blog Awards.

Flirt FM is the community radio station for the student population of Galway city's two third level colleges. It was established in 1995. Flirt FM's new summer schedule starts today and further details can be found at flirtfm.org.

Further information: Conn Ó Muíneacháin Publisher, An tImeall +353 87 7408056

Cuirtear tús inniu le comhchraoladh ar an bpodchraoladh laethúil Gaeilge An tImeall, ar stáisiún raidio na mac léinn sa Ghaillimh, Flirt FM . Is é An tImeall an chéad phodchraoladh neamhspleách in Éirinn a chraolfar ar an raidio.

Tugtar podchraoladh ar an módh lenar féidir comhaid fuaime agus físe a dháileadh ar an idirlíon le h-aghaidh seinnteoirí digiteacha soghluaiste. Is féidir síntús a ghlacadh le podchraoladh ionas gur féidir bogearra podghabhála ar nós Apple iTunes a úsáid chun podchraoltaí ar leith a fhaire agus na míreanna nuafhaoilsithe a íoslódáil go h-uathoibríoch go dtí ríomhaire nó go dtí gléas seinnte soghluaiste.

Tá tóir ar phodchraoltaí toisc go dtugann siad rogha leathan don lucht éisteachta agus toisc gur féidir éisteacht leis nó féachaint ar an ábhar podchraolta i do rogha áit, ag do rogha am. Is fusa chomh maith do tháirgitheoirí a gcuid cláracha a dháileadh beag beann ar líonraí tarchuradóireachta agus sceidil chraoltóireachta.

Bhí sé le sonrú le cúpla mí anuas go raibh fuadar faoi chraoltóirí traidisiúnta chun a gcuid podchraoltaí féin a fhoilsiú, agus tá roinnt mhaith cláracha aitheanta raidio ar fáil i bhfoirm phodchraoltaí anois. Ach níor éirigh le h-aon phodchraoltóir neamhspleách roimhe seo dul ar an raidio.

Foilsítear An tImeall ag imeall.blogspot.com. B'é an chéad phodchraoladh i nGaeilge. Tá sé in a mhisean aige freastal ar phobal scaipthe na Gaeilge, agus líonraí sóisialta a chothú don teanga. Tá breis agus 120 eagrá foilsithe ó cuireadh tús leis mí Iúil seo chaite, agus bhain an suíomh duais na Gaeilge ag Gradam na mBlag an mhí seo chaite.

Is é Flirt FM stáisiún raidio pobail na mac léinn i nGaillimh. Bunaíodh i 1995 é. Cuirtear tús le sceideal samhraidh an stáisúin inniu. Tuilleadh eolais ag flirtfm.org.

-- An tImeall - Podchraoladh Laethúil Daily Podcast in the Irish Language at imeall.blogspot.com (Blogging in English at imeall.wordpress.com 7:03:29 PM  comment []  

This is good news for the digital music biz, as the rumoured price increases to 2.50 a song would have driven many users back to p2p piracy. 8:26:06 AM  comment []