Chris Harris must modernise and up his game

[clonmult]

Diablo85 said:

R8VXF said:

This video sums up the Youtubers perfectly https://www.carthrottle.com/post/w6gekj6/

Haha quality! - the second one is spot on (Saabkyle04)

Occasionally saabkyle04 videos get suggested to me on youtube. And so far only one was worth watching - LaFerrari.

[Guvernator]

e21Mark said:

You don't seriously believe anyone is really telling him what he must do though surely?

"MUST modernise and up his game", the thread title and certainly some of the posts would certainly suggest so yes. I just find it a strange that some people feel they are in a position to offer advice. Unless someone was my mate who knew me well or was an expert in the matter in hand, I wouldn't really appreciate them trying to tell me how to run my business.

Seeing as I assume no one is best mates with CH or has successfully run and monetised a youtube channel, I'm not sure what qualifies them to give CH career advice just because he has a somewhat public profile. We've always had armchair experts I guess, it's just seems the internet has given them the perfect forum to vent their views. What I'd ask is if it's so easy, why aren't they doing it?

At any rate I'm sure he won't be loosing any sleep at night because someone on the internet has said "Oi Chris, you know that youtube internet thing, you're doing it all wrong"

[Quickmoose]

To be fair though the fact we're here discussing him, means we're likely to be his exact target market, so if the majority are suggesting 'more' would be nice... it wouldn't hurt to take note right?

[CorvetteConvert]

As long as Chris never becomes as irritating as that numpty Clarkson, he is fine by me.

[Guvernator]

Quickmoose said:

To be fair though the fact we're here discussing him, means we're likely to be his exact target market, so if the majority are suggesting 'more' would be nice... it wouldn't hurt to take note right?

Yep you have fair a point, I can understand people wanting more output of they are fans, it's just the MUST I have objection with. Who knows what his objectives are for running the channel? Perhaps they are not a part of his direct revenue generating strategy but part of an overall strategy to increase his profile so he gets more work from other sources in which case fewer higher quality vids might be exactly the right strategy for him.

This is the thing, without knowing CH or his goals, we can't really know so saying he MUST produce more short vids because all the other cool kids are doing it is a bit presumptuous, IMO of course.

[Digga]

CorvetteConvert said:

As long as Chris never becomes as irritating as that numpty Clarkson, he is fine by me.

Is that you Tymon?

[hondansx]

I am a big fan of Chris. His personality seals the deal, but ultimately what i like about the guy is that he can really drive. It's this crucial element that creates trust; if he says a car is good, i believe him.

I agree that we are not in a position to define 'success' for Chris; he can do what he likes. I suppose you could say we move in similar circles; i've seen him at events ranging fromt the Singer Porsche launch to the Spa 6HR this year (never been brave enough to say hi) and he - looks to be - living the dream in my eyes. Why would he need a big salary if he gets to attend events and drive fantastic race cars FOC?

I have met Tim (Shmee) and he is affable, enthusisatic and driven. However, for me it is bordering on offensive to Chris to make a comparison; the latter is a professional motoring journalist. Tim can reel off a spec sheet, but is no driver. His target market is teenagers vicariously taking part in the supercar lifestyle. I'm not even sure if they are interested in cars, they are just an element of the celebrity millionaire status that kids want to be part of these days. Fair play to Tim for making a living of it it, but despite his notoriety on YouTube i am also unconvinced that his videos are bank rolling his fleet.

[Chris Harris]

There is no right and no wrong on YT. It will never be a huge money-spinner for my type of content, but it's a great way of reaching huge numbers of people. And I still get to make films I like making.

More than happy with the way things are going. Thanks for all the support and looking forward to some new challenges in 2016.

'My' new M3 is wonderfully unhinged on a wet road. And the new turbo Carrera is good but nothing like as exciting as the old normally aspirated car.

Stay well one and all.

Best

Monkey (Quentin)

[Digga]

Good to hear the 'ultimate' reply to the OP, not that Chris or the other guys Tim/Schmee etc. need to defend themselves; if you don't like, don't watch. Simple.

Look forward to 2016's output.

[petrolsniffer]

Would like to see more from chris would love to see more on his own car collection does he still own an ax gt and 205 xs?

I know he personally quoted me on why he preferred them to the 205 gti but would like to see a video on it

[k-ink]

smithyithy said:

First reply nailed it.

The day Chris Harris starts uploading daily videos about going to have his haircut or getting his car wrapped in a vile colour with 'WOW!!', 'OMG!!' or 'FAST!!' slapped on the video video thumbnail is the day I'll stop watching his content.

Of course the more lucrative business model is catering to the lowest common denominator. I'd like to think that doesn't apply to lot of PH members hence I've no desire to see him stoop that low.

Quality > Quantity.

Absolutely. The world is full of st. We don't need anymore thanks.

[carinaman]

I wondered into the room with the TV in it lastnight and tonight to get some Xmas chocolates.

Lastnight there was some Instagrammer with a white Roller with what looked like a matt black Spirit of Ecstacy and central bonnet strake.

Tonight I assume it was Luther that had a Crime boss in the back of a Series 3 Jag XJ?

I wouldn't compare Harris with Schmee.

I would compare Harris with Harry Metcalfe.

[Yadizzle1]

405dogvan said:

Then there's Car Throttle - terrible name but a MASSIVE following and almost certainly the 'future of online car shows' (if it has one) - they do a wide range of content, spend not much doing it - draw in the likes of Lord whateverhisnameis and quietly probably redefine what people expec

Edited by 405dogvan on Tuesday 22 December 01:20

Car throttle is a bit st to be honest. Not very good content/production and just feels kinda generic. Shows like Harrys Garage, anything on Motortrend and Mighty Car Mods are a lot lot more interesting imo

[coppice]

Most car TV is appalling -as it is aimed at people with the attention span of an ant. It may be ..ahem..a business model which works but as I am more interested in cars than income streams ,revenue opportunities and sponsorship I couldn't care less whether some youtube adolescent posts daily or hourly and how many time shis stuff is watched . Harris is a fine writer and prose normally edges video for me- as most is cliched and tired. Podcasts do it for me though- and the ones done by people like Motor Sport are excellent.

[e21Mark]

petrolsniffer said:

Would like to see more from chris would love to see more on his own car collection does he still own an ax gt and 205 xs?

I know he personally quoted me on why he preferred them to the 205 gti but would like to see a video on it

Would also like to see him make some videos with older cars, like the one with his e28 M5.

[HorneyMX5]

The Sun says he's now going to be on BBC Top Gear.

[e21Mark]

Guvernator said:

e21Mark said:

You don't seriously believe anyone is really telling him what he must do though surely?

"MUST modernise and up his game", the thread title and certainly some of the posts would certainly suggest so yes. I just find it a strange that some people feel they are in a position to offer advice. Unless someone was my mate who knew me well or was an expert in the matter in hand, I wouldn't really appreciate them trying to tell me how to run my business.

Seeing as I assume no one is best mates with CH or has successfully run and monetised a youtube channel, I'm not sure what qualifies them to give CH career advice just because he has a somewhat public profile. We've always had armchair experts I guess, it's just seems the internet has given them the perfect forum to vent their views. What I'd ask is if it's so easy, why aren't they doing it?

At any rate I'm sure he won't be loosing any sleep at night because someone on the internet has said "Oi Chris, you know that youtube internet thing, you're doing it all wrong"

I just don't think he'd be so sensitive as to think any of us was seriously telling him what he must and must not do. Car forum, by their very nature, are full of armchair enthusiasts shooting the breeze. 90% (or possibly more) of what we write here on PH is opinion, conjecture and bullst but it's that which can make it interesting. Very little of it has any real substance and is worth worrying about.

[PositronicRay]

C7 JFW said:

Chris Harris is truly excellent, he just needs to post more frequently.

Shmee is irritating. Nice chap, just irritating.

Edited by C7 JFW on Monday 21st December 08:57

Never heard of Schmee till now. Just had a look, you're right.

[e21Mark]

PositronicRay said:

C7 JFW said:

Chris Harris is truly excellent, he just needs to post more frequently.

Shmee is irritating. Nice chap, just irritating.

Edited by C7 JFW on Monday 21st December 08:57

Never heard of Schmee till now. Just had a look, you're right.

Lucky chap, albeit somewhat obsessed with 'investment potentials' and colour matched keys.

[DonkeyApple]

balls-out said:

decrassius said:

In the meantime, a new breed of youtubers has exploded onto the scene. They post videos on a daily basis. Their clips are shorter and often focus on the life of the youtuber in the context of cars; rather than just the cars themselves. Shmee150 in one such youtuber and he has gathered twice as many subscribers as Chris Harris in a fraction of the time.

God help this self obsessed generation. I really DON'T want to watch videos about the life of Youtubers. I want to see cars.

Mass appeal often means sinking to the lowest common denominator

It is an interesting cultural split between the Millenials who have almost no attention span and no patience and all those who can recognise the sound of a typewriter.

But the important thing to note is that the Millenials have no money, in contrast to the other generations. They are the poorest Western generation in a long time and survive on parental support and debt. They can't even buy razors or trousers long enough .

From a commercial aspect it raises some very serious choices. Do you go for eyeballs by delivering your content in a Millenial friendly formal or do you follow the money and target the older generations?

Where CH possibly struggles is in the fact that the standard ad model for free video distribution catagorically favours the former and the style of frequent, bursting delivery. And the real problem with digital content is that there is no viable model to cater for the latter as it can just be copied and distributed for free outside your paying consumer base.

Traditional print media is dying rapidly and digital media doesn't favour traditional output as to monetise it requires eyeballs not ABC demographics in the traditional sense.