蓬勃發展的播客行業現已成為一門賺錢的大買賣。當然，它也是一種收聽精彩音頻內容的流行方式。如今的播客不僅僅是由著名的廣播公司制作的——任何有話要說的人，花很少的錢，買些設備，就可以參與進播客行業了。“隨身英語” 探討是什么讓播客又火了。

Vocabulary: media 詞匯：媒介

Do you prefer to watch TV or listen to the radio? There was a time when some people thought moving pictures beamed live into our houses would spell the end of tuning in to the radio for entertainment and information. But radio survived and flourished. And now, despite the growth in sophisticated smartphones offering high-definition pictures, the popularity of podcasts is booming.

Perhaps the growth in podcasting is not surprising – it offers a digital audio file that can be downloaded and stored for listening at any time. It can also be streamed from the internet and played on a computer or MP3 player. And it’s not just broadcasters, like the BBC, who are producing podcasts: now commercial broadcasters, individuals and companies with no connection to broadcasting are making them. In fact, anyone with something to say, and a few pounds to spend on the equipment, can get involved.

But where did this trend for making portable audio programmes begin? Journalist Ben Hammersley told the BBC that “two changes transformed the market – one cultural and one technical.” Apple launched the iPhone podcast app, recording and editing equipment became cheaper, and 4G mobile phone connections and Wi-Fi became widespread.

Technological development has driven many changes in our media consumption habits. But however good the tech may be, there still needs to be something worth watching or listening to. The BBC’s Jamie Robertson writes that for podcasts, Serial - a piece of non-fiction investigative journalism – captured people’s imagination. It was a piece of high-quality audio with a gripping story. To date, the first and second seasons of the show have had more than 340 million downloads. Advertisers soon realised the money-making potential of this and other successful podcasts.

Now there are podcasts about anything and everything - even the educational content that BBC Learning English offers! And these aural treats are available on a wide range of platforms. Audiences are very specific, which can help advertisers target what they want to promote. And if there isn’t a podcast to suit your interests, you can now easily make and distribute them - and become your very own broadcaster.

詞匯表

beam 播送
tune in 收聽，收看
high-definition 高清晰度
podcast 播客
podcasting 播客技術
digital 數字的
audio file 音頻文件
download （動詞）下載
stream 在線收聽（收看）
broadcaster 廣播公司
portable 便攜的
technical 技術的
recording and editing equipment 錄音和剪輯設備
technological development 科技發展
consumption 使用
capture one’s imagination 激發某人的想象力
high-quality 高質量的
download （名詞）下載次數、下載量
advertiser 廣告商
aural 聽覺的
platform 平臺
audience 聽眾
distribute 分送，傳送

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. According to the article, what can be done with a digital audio file?

2. Why is it easy for almost anyone to make a podcast?

3. True or false? Improved technology is only part of the reason why podcasts have become popular.

4. Who has been keen to promote and fund podcasts because of the money they can generate?

5. Which word used in the article means ‘existing in many places’?

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思恰當的單詞填入句子中的空格處。

1. Your story will need _______ as it’s a bit too long and the middle part is a bit boring!

recording            podcasting                 editing                   broadcasting

2. The football match was _______ live across the world on social media, so everyone got to share the excitement of the final at the same time.

streamed            downloaded               consumption           podcasting

3. My new car is saving me loads of money because of its lower fuel _______.

consuming          consumption              consumptions          consumptioning

4. My job is to _______ the money fairly to all the charities that need it.

advertise             portable                      podcast                   distribute

5. Her fashion designs have really _______ and now everyone is trying to copy them.

capturing people’s imagination              captured people’s imagination

captured people imagination                 captured people’s imagining

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。  

1. According to the article, what can be done with a digital audio file?
A digital audio file can be downloaded and stored for listening at any time.

2. Why is it easy for almost anyone to make a podcast?
Recording and editing equipment became cheaper meaning anyone can get involved.

3. True or false? Improved technology is only part of the reason why podcasts have become popular.
True. Technology has helped in the growth of podcasting, but there still needs to be something worth watching or listening to if the technology is to thrive.

4. Who has been keen to promote and fund podcasts because of the money they can generate?
Advertisers have realised the money-making potential of podcasting.

5. Which word used in the article means ‘existing in many places’?
Widespread. (“Apple launched the iPhone podcast app, recording and editing equipment became cheaper and 4G mobile phone connections and Wi-Fi became widespread.”)

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思恰當的單詞填入句子中的空格處。 

1. Your story will need editing as it’s a bit too long and the middle part is a bit boring!

2. The football match was streamed live across the world on social media, so everyone got to share the excitement of the final at the same time.

3. My new car is saving me loads of money because of its lower fuel consumption.

4. My job is to distribute the money fairly to all the charities that need it.

5. Her fashion designs have really captured people’s imagination and now everyone is trying to copy them.