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As noted earlier the are closing. Britcaster played a key role in the development of a thriving indie podcasting scene in the UK (full disclosure I was a member) but the announcement that it was to close has prompted some heated debate about the future of podcasting in the UK. This post by is well worth reading: of UK podcasting he says:

"the veneer of vitality has slipped, exposing a mass of conflicting symptoms that collectively, paint a far less rosy picture of its current condition than had previously appeared on the surface.The true depth of the malaise finally emerged a few days ago, following Neil Dixon's announcement that the Britcaster podcasting forum would be closing its doors for good at midnight on December 15. In the wake of this news, a major implosive event began to be played out on Britcaster with a series of heated exchanges and recriminations hurtling across modems and onto forum pages."

I encourage those with an interest in UK podcasting to read but to precis the post: John bemoans the loss of a sense of community. UK podcasting is now, according to John, fragmented and directionless. So has UK podcasting been a victim of it's own success? As the Web2.0 boom continues money has followed and large players like have entered the scene. Indeed podcasts are now a category in the the major awards of the UK radio industry. One might think all these should be taken as signs of a healthy market for UK podcasts. I asked the founder of Britcaster and now with BTPodshow for his view. This is what he had to say:

"UK podcasting community has never been in crisis, but it has been recently in a rut. The sudden, and to some surprising, closure of the BritCaster community forum has already generated a flurry of positive activity giving rise to new community projects, and once again the UK independent podcasting community is looking forward, planning, and collaborating in a way we haven't seen since the early BritCaster days in 2005. Let's hope the new energy and positive attitude to the power of community-driven progress keeps UK podcasting innovative and at the forefront of this new media."

Two different views of the current situation and I'd encourage podcasters with a view on the subject to email or jump into the comments with their own thoughts.

UPDATE: John Buckley sent me this email clarifying his thoughts: "UK Podcasting isn't in crisis, but it is undergoing a major restructuring operation! The closure of the Britcaster forums can be viewed as a good thing, but it carries within it the seeds of possible future conflict. We need to work constructively to avoid this. There will be two new forums where before there was only Britcaster. This will enlarge the forum space for everybody and encourage new people and fresh ideas into the medium. The challenge, will be to ensure that these two distinct spaces do not become antagonistic communities. It's important that we recognise this possibility and continue to work on projects that allow us to come together in a spirit of openness, collaboration and congeniality. That way we ensure the brightest possible future for everybody involved in British podcasting. "

UPDATE II Dean Whitbread of the sent his thoughts, "After two years of being in very few places, the UK podcasting scene has just evolved amoeba-like, which has caused some consternation, but I think it was actually the current dynamism of the UK podcasting scene that inevitably caused podcasting to outgrow this particular nest. From my perspective, I'm convinced that the energy is alive and well...."