14 DAY TRIAL // Giant podcasting network Wizzard Media has announced acquiring the exclusive distribution rights to six iPhone apps, according to an official report. Blue Attack, OmNomNom, Sudoku Unlimited, TouchScan, Blue Defense and Sudoku Classic will reportedly generate over $228,000 in annual revenues, Wizzard Media believes. Developers are encouraged to use Wizzard's podcasts as an advertising platform.
Naturally, Wizzard estimates these figures while taking into account the standard deduction of Apple’s 30%, which the Mac maker retains for managing and maintaining the App Store under good running conditions. Wizzard cites its own advertising and marketing talents as reasons for the acquisition, and confirms that its plans in the long run include the acquisition of up to 100 already launched and approved iPhone Apps.
“The Apple App Store has been an incredible success since its launch last year and we believe iTunes is the greatest digital media sales channel in the world. We know through our podcast distribution statistics that they attract a tremendous amount of media consumers,” says Chris Spencer, Wizzard Media CEO. “The simplicity of a consumer hearing about a great App from their favorite podcast and being able to pause the podcast, click to the App store and buy, all on their iPhone, makes us believe that this could be a great success for podcasters app developers and for Wizzard. The fact that they don’t have to enter credit card information and the low cost price of the Apps make this a compelling offer to consumers.”
Also noteworthy is Gene Munster's (analyst) projections for 2009. Piper Jaffray’s researcher predicts that in total Apple will see a revenue of $780 million this year thanks to the iTunes App Store.
“As more people move towards the mobile consumption of podcasts on the iPhone and iPod Touch, Wizzard sees new revenue opportunities opening up for its podcasting business using Apple’s App Store micropayment system,” says Dave Mansueto, co- founder of podcasting goliath Liberated Syndication (a Wizzard Media company). “By creating a continuous revenue stream for podcast producers and App developers through the marketing of iPhone Apps via podcasts, we believe Wizzard is strengthening its market leading position in the podcast industry and will continue to be the service of choice for monetizing podcast inventory for media companies, large and small.”
Wizzard Media is making this announcement as the first step in an expanded monetization plan for its podcasting network of 20,000 producers and 18 million viewers and listeners, approximately 70% of whom use iTunes to subscribe to and download their favorite podcasts.