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Why do Video Networks Fail? One Reason: The Content
**UPDATE: Scoble not leaving Podtech (I edited to remove the misunderstanding out of the post).
I read an article where CEO John Furrier states an additional $2 million had been invested in the company in the middle of July which he expected to last only "a few months". Wow. What are they doing over there?
I don't know any of the details as to why the company is not making it except for the one I could always see myself and I believe it's the most important part of a network: quality of content.
The network has about 20 shows they list on their website. Have you heard of any of them? Aside from The Scoble Show, quick, name another show. . . Yea, I always have a hard time with that question too. I'd rather see the new networks making it but they are mostly missing that important role of creating compelling content that will resonate with enough people to sustain and grow.
Podtech is clearly a tech company. Pod. Tech. From what I can tell, they never had anyone in their company that was a professional and experienced video content producer. And not just someone but someone with good taste who can understand how the content will fit in with everything else that is out there.
First adopters are techies and the new networks have the DNA of Silicon Valley all over them. Where is Hollywood in this thinking? Content is business mostly driven by professional content creators, not the technology industry. The problem is biconditional. The traditional studio are not listening to the technologists very well on how to support the flow of their good content. There needs to be more of a collaboration.
When we take a moment to step out of the 2.0 bubble and have a look around, its easy to see that the power of the moving image is not going to burst. Online video, personal publishing, content - this type of stuff is not about today's shiny new gadgets and Ajax. When the iPhone becomes an archaic collectors item and Facebook and YouTube are only known by the old and stodgy, people will be still be creating content that will strike a chord in a big way and there will always be a big market for it.
I'd rather see the new networks making it but they are mostly missing that really important role of being able to identify compelling content that will strike a chord in enough people to sustain and grow.
** update 8/12: Allen Stern has some good suggestions. I also want to be clear that I believe all the content on Podtech is valuable - the greatest value is not about popularity and monitatiztion. As always, its truely sad how money hampers us.
Posted to internet_culture by Drew on
August 11, 2007
7:52 AM
Comments:
+ julien
wow, no way.
Posted: August 11, 2007 10:18 AM
+ Brandon
Wow... thats quite shocking!
Posted: August 11, 2007 10:47 AM
+ Judson
it's difficult to imagine that as he was just on GeekBrief.tv for gnomedex talking about how everything was fine, but i guess if something was that drastic...
Posted: August 11, 2007 11:24 AM
+ steve garfield
Chuck Olsen also tweets earlier, "and as I told Jackson West... never believe anything I Twitter after 1am CST. :-D"
Posted: August 11, 2007 11:32 AM
+ Drew
Steve, you might be on to something. :) I still haven't heard back from anyone but even if it's not true that Scoble has left, I still feel that Podtech and others are in danger which is the main statement I wanted to make.
Posted: August 11, 2007 11:40 AM
+ Matt Harwood
Robert just denied this on twitter FYI.
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:08 PM
+ dc crowley
Scoble denies this story: http://twitter.com/Scobleizer/statuses/200265762
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:13 PM
+ Bill Streeter
Come on, you're basing the idea the Scoble quits based on a twitter posting from someone who regually posts jokes and satire? Nice way to rumor monger. While you're not completely off base with some of the things you say here. None of it is particularly enlightened or original, and it's pretty irresponsible of you to bate people into reading it with such a dubious source (no offense to Chuck--I just know he likes to joke around a lot on Twitter).
There are a couple of other things I also have to take issue with here. One is your point that there are no professional experienced media people at Podtech. As I happen to be one, and Ryanne, Jay and the fine folks at Freshtopia are too. It's also important to note that Scobles show is not the only notable one there either, you've heard of my show haven't you? Or perhaps you've seen it featured in iTunes right next to a show called Rocketboom several times in the last year? How abot Freshtopia? Ever heard of that? Don't you think that honesty would give your other arguments a little more credibility?
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:19 PM
+ dc
"The network has about 20 shows they list on their website. Have you heard of any of them? Aside from The Scoble Show, quick, name another show."
Franky Magid and Gilmore are pretty good. PodTech should go through their logfiles and drop the bottom half (but look on an individual basis, maybe their is talent there as well, but it needs repositioning). I hope Podtech make it. But Podtech is new. You try things. Some stuff works, some does not. You adapt and move forward. I won't be gloating if Podtech were to go down.
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:24 PM
+ Erik Schwartz
"CEO John Furrier states an additional $2 million had been invested in the company in the middle of July which he expected to last only "a few months". Wow. What are they doing over there?"
40 people, at an averaged burdened cost of $120,000/year gives you a monthly payroll of $400,000/month.
Add onto that a big office on Page Mill...
$2 mil won't last long.
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:39 PM
+ Drew
Bill, in all honesty, I really do not associate you with Podtech or watch your show (I will have a look today because I can see I should know about it). I know you from the videoblogging list on Yahoo. And as I said, I truly have a hard time remembering the names of any shows on the network or who is behind them. I can think of the 38 Media show which I think is not at all in good spirit (its purpose is to be mean to people).
Also, I'm not bating anyone. I got an email from a staff member this morning linking to the tweet because we have been expecting as much to happen. I was clear that the rumor was unconfirmed and linked to my source.
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:41 PM
+ Robert Scoble
Its funny to watch people make shit up about me and PodTech.
Hey, Andrew, do you have it all figured out? Do you have 37 people who's livelihood relies on you and your efforts?
Are you a "professional" media guy? Who says?
The guy who is running a good chunk of our editorial? Steve Gillmor. He has worked in media for more than 30 years (produced records in the 60s and worked for a variety of big media companies including InfoWorld, eWeek, and others).
Here's his bio: http://www.eweek.com/author_bio/0,1908,a=2599,00.asp
Posted: August 11, 2007 12:55 PM
+ Drew
Robert, no, no and no.
But I stand behind my point:
"From what I can tell, they never had anyone in their company that was a professional and experienced video content producer. And not just someone but someone with good taste who can understand how the content will fit in with everything else that is out there."
I think Steve is great (i was turned on to him via audio podcasting), you just brought him on in the last month, right? You linked to his bio and this is all the info it says, however:
"Steve Gillmor is editor of eWEEK.com's Messaging & Collaboration Center. As a principal reviewer at Byte magazine, Gillmor covered areas including Visual Basic, NT open systems, Lotus Notes and other collaborative software systems. After stints as a contributing editor at InformationWeek Labs, editor in chief at Enterprise Development Magazine, editor in chief and editorial director at XML and Java Pro Magazines, he joined InfoWorld as test center director and columnist."
Sounds kinda techie related to me but Im not seeing where it talks about video production.
I would just think that the company has not picked shows that can support the livelihood of 37 people at this point.
You know Ive always rooted for you. Even as recently as a few weeks ago I introduced you to my best friend and recommended her show to your network. Yall never even responded, but I guess this is not a good time to be adding more people to the payroll if you already have 37. Or maybe it is, I of course do not know.
Best of luck for sure!
p.s. Here is what the orginal post said:
" Im still trying to confirm that Chuck's tweet means what it says."
I also emailed Chuck, John and Robert for confirmation.
Posted: August 11, 2007 1:26 PM
+ chuck
Oh dear... I apologize for my late nite Twitter shenanigans. Steve G and and Bill are correct, I am a dubious source!
The previous night I said (Loren) Feldman was out, but basically admitted it was a joke the next morning. Last night I took it further. It's an imaginary Kauffmanesque PodTech soap opera, appropriately crossing over into real soap opera.
Utmost props to Scoble. I wish no harm, only minor confusion and a distant laugh.
Posted: August 11, 2007 2:24 PM
+ drew olanoff
content.content.content.
bottom line. if it's cool stuff, people pay attention.
Posted: August 11, 2007 3:46 PM
+ Jeff
I do not know why I am responding to this post as I am not a video producer or a techie.
I will agree that the only shows I know of at podtech are the scoble show and the Feldman it. I rarely watch either. Why you ask. Because I don't care what the next new gadget is and how IBM started and I don't care to see who Feldman is dogging to try and get viewers by slander or put downs. I watch for interesting stories that will show me something entertaining. Rocketboom is on my list, but if the description is some political mumbo jumbo or for a cause, I go to the next show. I am here for entertainment and not enlightenment. THat's why YouTube is popular. They entertain with humor. We joke at the quality of kiddie stuff there, but how many time do you laugh at a clip from Scoble?
And speaking of content. Do you really need a 30 second intro to a show that people are clicking manually to watch? Tell Om if our answer is no. People need to find a happy medium in the creation of content. So on that note, I think Andrew is right saying that the proper mix of "PROPER" creative and technology will go a long way.
Posted: August 11, 2007 8:17 PM
+ Enric
PodTech has Nora McDevitt (unless somethings changed) who has experience working in Enterntainment in LA and does know how to make compelling content:
Dontcha (iPhone remix)
Hopefully PodTech allows her implement her ideas.
Posted: August 13, 2007 4:13 AM
+ Jay Smooth
PodTech also has a new hip-hop videoblog that's featured in the latest Wired magazine, and also got shoutouts in The Onion and the NY Times Magazine. You should check it out, in my unbiased opinion.
ill Doctrine
Posted: August 19, 2007 6:50 PM
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