Including a Tiki Bar TV App

Dec 22, 2009 14:18 GMT  ·  By

Wizzard Media, the leading podcasting network, announced today the release of a number of 22 new iPhone software solutions, all of which are now available for purchase in the Apple App Store. According to the company, the total number of apps available for the device now reached 152, and the list includes an app for the popular Tiki Bar TV. The applications feature price tags that range from $1.99 to $3.99 each, the company also noted.

The new Tiki Bar TV App is priced at $2.99, and has been designed so as to offer the latest episodes from the popular Tiki Bar TV comedy video podcast series that features Dr. Tiki, Johnny Johnny and Lala. The show appeared for the first time on iTunes on March 13, 2005, and has become very popular ever since, with both Forbes and Business Week recognizing its innovation in podcast entertainment, the company added.

“We know there is strong demand for the podcasts we distribute seeing downloads grow from 400 million to well over 1 billion in the last three years and monthly audiences grow from 4 million to 18 million,” says Laurie Sims, president of Wizzard Media. “Now that we have a method to charge for podcast content and offer reoccurring subscriptions, we believe there is dramatic change ahead for the podcast industry. Unlike most Apps in the App store, podcasters have a distinct advantage to successfully market their App in iTunes due to the fact that they have already built a substantial audience for their product through iTunes.”

The new applications that are now available for the iPhone via the App Store are companions for other popular podcasts on the Wizzard Media Network. Through them, users get one-click access to episodes directly on their iPhone or iPod touch, and they can also access bonus content and new social communication features. The apps market is expected to reach $4.0 billion by 2012, Wizzard notes, adding that they expect for a larger number of people to consume podcasts on their iPhones and iPod touches.

“Now, podcasting becomes a platform that converts audiences to revenue, accelerated by the micropayment billing process that Apple has created with the App store,” says Dave Mansueto, co-founder Wizzard Media. “We believe this new process is the future model for how digital media is published, audiences are grown and revenues derived.”