This is an interesting point. To me, it feels like an old-form talkshow would be radio or TV. Both of these are subject to heavy regulation and corporate gatekeeping. That is much less true for Internet publishing. Although, as Internet publishing becomes more and more centralised, the same regulations and gatekeeping are likely to emerge in similar form.

> Why is it that the means of distribution is relevant at all?

The medium is the message [1]. Recitations and radio shows have as much in common as linear-TV talk shows and streamed ones.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_medium_is_the_message