First HD Podcasts on iTunes

While perhaps not the technological revolution many thought it would be, the Apple TV is proving to be the spark for a different revolution. Besides providing the last piece of the puzzle that allows indie moviemakers to deliver their content to the living room, the little box is now helping podcasts take the next big step.

The Washington Post's award winning website is the very first to start offering high-definition podcasts, via iTunes. The content conforms to the highest specifications for the new Apple TV, making it easier than ever to view extremely good quality news content anywhere, any time users want it.

"The demand for high quality video via the Web is surpassing that of the supply. Consumers are eager to adopt HD content to move away from the drab experience of watching it within a small box on their computer screens," said Tom Kennedy, Managing Editor, Multimedia, washingtonpost.com, in the press release. "High-definition is the future of video; we have moved beyond standard definition to provide viewers with a higher standard. We knew we needed to evolve past web video to remain a relevant, innovative news source."

It might look like a small step, but it could prove to be a giant leap. If podcasts start moving into the mainstream, it will mean a significant shift in the paradigm towards on-demand content. Much like the iPod helped spark the audio podcasting revolution, the Apple TV could do the same for the video. The first steps towards this were already taken with TV Shows, but in the not too distant future, it could very well be that the networks will simply disappear from the picture, or become a much smaller part of it.