RE: Pay per view: PH Blog
Discussion
For what it's worth I'm unlikely to subscribe.
I’ve watched all of Chris’ productions, pretty much as soon as they went up, and enjoyed them all. I can do without the expensive stuff as some of the most enjoyable videos are the simpler (cheaper?) ones where Chris has a press fleet car or uses one of his.
I hope these will still made and aren’t behind the paywall. An optimistic reading of the blog seems to suggest that’s the case.
Of course, I would like the status quo to continue (well before the unannounced hiatus!) perhaps using the justification that the sprinkling of £9k F40 shoots are loss leaders that drag eyes to other content. But accept that they couldn’t do this so need to try something else.
I’ve watched all of Chris’ productions, pretty much as soon as they went up, and enjoyed them all. I can do without the expensive stuff as some of the most enjoyable videos are the simpler (cheaper?) ones where Chris has a press fleet car or uses one of his.
I hope these will still made and aren’t behind the paywall. An optimistic reading of the blog seems to suggest that’s the case.
Of course, I would like the status quo to continue (well before the unannounced hiatus!) perhaps using the justification that the sprinkling of £9k F40 shoots are loss leaders that drag eyes to other content. But accept that they couldn’t do this so need to try something else.
Quick question and apologies if this has already been answered, but this thread is big!
What's to stop you waiting six months or so, paying your £2.49 for a month's subscription, watching everything over the course of a couple of weeks and then cancelling the subscription? Surely that way you'll get the lot for just one payment?
What's to stop you waiting six months or so, paying your £2.49 for a month's subscription, watching everything over the course of a couple of weeks and then cancelling the subscription? Surely that way you'll get the lot for just one payment?
My big concern about the model is that is pretty much splits up the discussion. if the material is inside the paywall, then of course there will be no meaningful discussion outside it, ( like Clarkson's columns in the Times), and therefore the reach of the material will necessarily be much reduced. I don't really care about the cost of the sub, but it is a very different experience that being able to view it and immediately have the normal PH discussion about it. I was a subscriber to DR and had great hopes for it, but the community and interaction between the DR staff and the subscribers did not happen, and there was no community.
I am not for a moment disputing Chris's point that the current model is not sustainable, but would have preferred a pay per item model.
I am not for a moment disputing Chris's point that the current model is not sustainable, but would have preferred a pay per item model.
DonkeyApple said:
PW said:
Don't try and shift the blame.
No one would use adblock if it hadn't gotten to the point where sites are borderline unusable, and companies that think everyone one the internet is 5 years old and will only respond to flashing lights and loud noises.
Let's plaster the site with incredibly obnoxious and annoying adverts... Oh, people don't want to see obnoxious and annoying adverts? WHAT A SHOCK! How did we not foresee this turn of events?!
I would hazard that idiotic advertising is because they have idiotic viewers. Same as why they run lots of adverts about women soiling their pants, not being able to soil their pants or dumb celebs making them think that smearing lard on their rancid mugs will make them look tolerable on ITV2/3/4 etc. it's called targeting. No one would use adblock if it hadn't gotten to the point where sites are borderline unusable, and companies that think everyone one the internet is 5 years old and will only respond to flashing lights and loud noises.
Let's plaster the site with incredibly obnoxious and annoying adverts... Oh, people don't want to see obnoxious and annoying adverts? WHAT A SHOCK! How did we not foresee this turn of events?!
Whilst the model may bring in some revenue, I suspect there are more people avoiding it than partaking in it.
As to the solution, I have no idea. There are plenty of ways to download and distribute YouTube videos as well if people are so inclined so that's not a guaranteed revenue stream either.
As posted in the poll
Not for me, I've no interest I the American stuff and to be honest I find some of the harris stuff bores me, I'm not really interested in watching a guy drift cars round a track, best video I've seen from CH was the singer one.
Strange how some criticise top gear for being same old and formulaic but then gush over CH, his stuff is just as if not more formulaic.
Not for me, I've no interest I the American stuff and to be honest I find some of the harris stuff bores me, I'm not really interested in watching a guy drift cars round a track, best video I've seen from CH was the singer one.
Strange how some criticise top gear for being same old and formulaic but then gush over CH, his stuff is just as if not more formulaic.
David87 said:
Quick question and apologies if this has already been answered, but this thread is big!
What's to stop you waiting six months or so, paying your £2.49 for a month's subscription, watching everything over the course of a couple of weeks and then cancelling the subscription? Surely that way you'll get the lot for just one payment?
use the free trial and you'll be laughingWhat's to stop you waiting six months or so, paying your £2.49 for a month's subscription, watching everything over the course of a couple of weeks and then cancelling the subscription? Surely that way you'll get the lot for just one payment?
chrispmartha said:
As posted in the poll
Not for me, I've no interest I the American stuff and to be honest I find some of the harris stuff bores me, I'm not really interested in watching a guy drift cars round a track, best video I've seen from CH was the singer one.
Strange how some criticise top gear for being same old and formulaic but then gush over CH, his stuff is just as if not more formulaic.
People bash Top Gear because it's not about the cars anymore, it's scripted entertainment and practical jokes with a loose tie to something motorised.Not for me, I've no interest I the American stuff and to be honest I find some of the harris stuff bores me, I'm not really interested in watching a guy drift cars round a track, best video I've seen from CH was the singer one.
Strange how some criticise top gear for being same old and formulaic but then gush over CH, his stuff is just as if not more formulaic.
zeduffman said:
People bash Top Gear because it's not about the cars anymore, it's scripted entertainment and practical jokes with a loose tie to something motorised.
Well maybe but it still is about cats deep down, for instance Hammonds review of the Hybrid Porsche was far better than harris' review of the P1One more thing to point out is that the F50/F40 test that was selected to highlight the negative cost balance of the current revuenue format was probably the most expensive, since it included the insurance cost of two 500k+ cars and the renting cost of the Anglessey circuit.
In reality, I reckon the average production value of drive channel videos is quite lower than the F40/F50 video. Considering that other youtube channels that produce similar (if not higher) quality content to /DRIVE are viable with the current free video + advertisements revenue format, the 5$ subsription indicates towards greed rather than covering of video expenses and make of living.
In the end , the saddening fact (for Harris at least, to whom i am a big fan of) is that accepting the 5$ paywall and going along with the 2% subriction estimation from current fanbase is a b
hslap to the rest of 98% who contributed to his current legendary status as car presenter. As the recent poll reveals, even on a hardcore car community like pistonheads, only 2/3 of the people are willing pay the subrsciption fee.I am quite sure this is not due the insurmountable cost of 5$..
I think that even Harris knows deep down that are more ways to make profitable the thing he and us the fans love, be it microtransactions, sponsporhip or any of the other options mentioned. For the time being i think he is stuck with the /DRIVE guys. Respect to Matt Farah though.
In reality, I reckon the average production value of drive channel videos is quite lower than the F40/F50 video. Considering that other youtube channels that produce similar (if not higher) quality content to /DRIVE are viable with the current free video + advertisements revenue format, the 5$ subsription indicates towards greed rather than covering of video expenses and make of living.
In the end , the saddening fact (for Harris at least, to whom i am a big fan of) is that accepting the 5$ paywall and going along with the 2% subriction estimation from current fanbase is a b
hslap to the rest of 98% who contributed to his current legendary status as car presenter. As the recent poll reveals, even on a hardcore car community like pistonheads, only 2/3 of the people are willing pay the subrsciption fee.I am quite sure this is not due the insurmountable cost of 5$.. I think that even Harris knows deep down that are more ways to make profitable the thing he and us the fans love, be it microtransactions, sponsporhip or any of the other options mentioned. For the time being i think he is stuck with the /DRIVE guys. Respect to Matt Farah though.
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