IT Conversations has announced plans to expand and diversify into biotech, science, open source, the future, media, mobile technology and other specialty fields in a group called Conversations Network. The principals apparently intend to continue to offer the service for free, although some paid services are under consideration. This is great news if you’re interested in tech podcasts. Doug Kaye, who runs ITC, has put together an effective governance system for organizing hundreds of volunteers and wants to scale up.

I have great respect for what Doug and his associates are doing. They could easily sell this operation or take on sponsors. Instead, they’re pursuing more of a quasi-sponsorship approach a la PBS. I’ve spoken to Doug about this and he appears to have no intentions to build this business into a big monemaker. There’s a practical issue, too: if ITC becomes a for-profit company, its access to content will be cut off or severely restricted by competitive media companies. So Conversations Network almost must remain nonprofit to continue to offer breadth and quality.

Tech publishers should take note, though. IT Conversations could emerge as an important channel to your readers. It’s become my first step for tech podcasts.