RE: Pay per view: PH Blog
Discussion
I'm ooot.
Not because i'm too cheap, it's just that while Monkeys videos look great, they are not centered around telling me what a car is like to live with for a mortal on an English Road.
Lots of track, lots of Spanish Roads, lots of empty Welsh ones, nothing in a real world situation that would affect my buying decision.
That policy is (for me) fine with stuff i could never afford, but only mildly interesting for stuff i could.
The Bike mags all went this way - track tests for Sports Bikes.
Nobody rides Sports Bikes anymore.......
Not because i'm too cheap, it's just that while Monkeys videos look great, they are not centered around telling me what a car is like to live with for a mortal on an English Road.
Lots of track, lots of Spanish Roads, lots of empty Welsh ones, nothing in a real world situation that would affect my buying decision.
That policy is (for me) fine with stuff i could never afford, but only mildly interesting for stuff i could.
The Bike mags all went this way - track tests for Sports Bikes.
Nobody rides Sports Bikes anymore.......
As much as I like Chris - I think I will have to sit back and see what happens with this.
My issue not being Drive in particular - but Google.
Youtube is just another way for Google to rinse companies (Drive) and the user (us).
I spend a fair chunk with Google and it pains me. Badly.
They play everyone off against each other - but every year we go along with it and throw blank cheques at them....
So, for that reason I am out (for now).
Best of luck though.
My issue not being Drive in particular - but Google.
Youtube is just another way for Google to rinse companies (Drive) and the user (us).
I spend a fair chunk with Google and it pains me. Badly.
They play everyone off against each other - but every year we go along with it and throw blank cheques at them....
So, for that reason I am out (for now).
Best of luck though.
I'll be signing up, but doing so because of the CH content. I have to say that 90% of the USA centric content I pass on, simply because American cars generally do nothing for me.
The other worry is that the style of the videos change to something rather like the ones CH did around Christmas whilst in the states. They were..... not good.
Many people have mentioned it, but what ARE we getting for the money in terms of number of videos/length of videos etc. Obviously you can't say if they're not produced yet, but some mention of your plans or expectations would be good.
The other worry is that the style of the videos change to something rather like the ones CH did around Christmas whilst in the states. They were..... not good.
Many people have mentioned it, but what ARE we getting for the money in terms of number of videos/length of videos etc. Obviously you can't say if they're not produced yet, but some mention of your plans or expectations would be good.
it won't work.
Reasons:
There's always alternative free content - JayLenosGarage.com is superb. Slightly different angle but that's just an example.
It's the internet. No one likes paying for anything.
Piracy. People will copy it and re distribute. CH productions will not have the time nor money to have it removed.
Music - I'm ex music industry (20years in the internet world now) and have many friends who are earning practically nothing from online music services. No writer/performer is earning money from internet service streams.
I don't know what the figures are - perhaps they'll get a few 1-2% of their current viewers, more may sign up initially but it's not sustainable.
They should have looked at a way to have it sponsored - make it available to everyone. And earn some money that way.
Reasons:
There's always alternative free content - JayLenosGarage.com is superb. Slightly different angle but that's just an example.
It's the internet. No one likes paying for anything.
Piracy. People will copy it and re distribute. CH productions will not have the time nor money to have it removed.
Music - I'm ex music industry (20years in the internet world now) and have many friends who are earning practically nothing from online music services. No writer/performer is earning money from internet service streams.
I don't know what the figures are - perhaps they'll get a few 1-2% of their current viewers, more may sign up initially but it's not sustainable.
They should have looked at a way to have it sponsored - make it available to everyone. And earn some money that way.
Ed Straker said:
I'm ooot.
Not because i'm too cheap, it's just that while Monkeys videos look great, they are not centered around telling me what a car is like to live with for a mortal on an English Road.
Lots of track, lots of Spanish Roads, lots of empty Welsh ones, nothing in a real world situation that would affect my buying decision.
That policy is (for me) fine with stuff i could never afford, but only mildly interesting for stuff i could.
The Bike mags all went this way - track tests for Sports Bikes.
Nobody rides Sports Bikes anymore.......
Interesting feedback. I'll bring that up in our next editorial meeting. Not because i'm too cheap, it's just that while Monkeys videos look great, they are not centered around telling me what a car is like to live with for a mortal on an English Road.
Lots of track, lots of Spanish Roads, lots of empty Welsh ones, nothing in a real world situation that would affect my buying decision.
That policy is (for me) fine with stuff i could never afford, but only mildly interesting for stuff i could.
The Bike mags all went this way - track tests for Sports Bikes.
Nobody rides Sports Bikes anymore.......
jfmusial said:
I'm here to answer any questions...
Regards,
JF
Executive Producer, /DRIVE.
Right, great!Regards,
JF
Executive Producer, /DRIVE.
1. What should people like me in Europe (Netherlands and Austria) do when I can’t even subscribe with VPN, let a lone on a mobile device?
2. How much of the content will be partial TV clips similar to the recent NBC Sports Monaco Special? (i.e. "modified" to suit mass media rather than enthusiasts)
3. If (2.) is >25%, it true that clips will air on Youtube one week after they have aired on NBC?
4. Will Larry from Ammo NYC be back with /Drive Clean?
Thank you.
woof said:
it won't work.
Reasons:
There's always alternative free content - JayLenosGarage.com is superb. Slightly different angle but that's just an example.
It's the internet. No one likes paying for anything.
Piracy. People will copy it and re distribute. CH productions will not have the time nor money to have it removed.
Music - I'm ex music industry (20years in the internet world now) and have many friends who are earning practically nothing from online music services. No writer/performer is earning money from internet service streams.
I don't know what the figures are - perhaps they'll get a few 1-2% of their current viewers, more may sign up initially but it's not sustainable.
They should have looked at a way to have it sponsored - make it available to everyone. And earn some money that way.
I promise you, I spent the past 16 months looking for alternatives. Everything pointed in this direction. Sponsorship would've killed the content editorially. I'm not giving up my ethics to pimp out a product we all ultimately hate. Reasons:
There's always alternative free content - JayLenosGarage.com is superb. Slightly different angle but that's just an example.
It's the internet. No one likes paying for anything.
Piracy. People will copy it and re distribute. CH productions will not have the time nor money to have it removed.
Music - I'm ex music industry (20years in the internet world now) and have many friends who are earning practically nothing from online music services. No writer/performer is earning money from internet service streams.
I don't know what the figures are - perhaps they'll get a few 1-2% of their current viewers, more may sign up initially but it's not sustainable.
They should have looked at a way to have it sponsored - make it available to everyone. And earn some money that way.
And your number is right, 2% is the sweet spot. If we get a 2% conversion, /DRIVE is in business for a long time.
What somebody really needs to invent is a proper micro-transaction model. Something that would make it practical to charge a penny (or less) per view. Think I'm kidding? Well all of a sudden the McLaren video would go from bringing in £9200 to bringing in £36000. From 1p per viewer. Charge 5p and it jumps to nearly £200k.
Certainly you'd lose a percentage of viewers but more from the inconvenience of paying than from the cost itself. After-all, who'd complain about paying pocket change to watch a video? It's the app-store model on steroids and whoever makes it work will first be rolling in cash.
Certainly you'd lose a percentage of viewers but more from the inconvenience of paying than from the cost itself. After-all, who'd complain about paying pocket change to watch a video? It's the app-store model on steroids and whoever makes it work will first be rolling in cash.
1. What should people like me in Europe (Netherlands and Austria) do when I can’t even subscribe with VPN, let a lone on a mobile device?
Working on this right now actually. YouTube is still rolling out their regional agreements. Each country has different laws for SVOD service. Right now, /DRIVE+ is only available in 24 countries. By end of month, it should be closer to 50.
2. How much of the content will be partial TV clips similar to the recent NBC Sports Monaco Special? (i.e. "modified" to suit mass media rather than enthusiasts)
NBC Sports will be repurposing our online content. Only about 25% of what you see on NBC Sports is stuff that you won't see online first.
3. If (2.) is >25%, it true that clips will air on Youtube one week after they have aired on NBC?
More like two weeks.
4. Will Larry from Ammo NYC be back with /Drive Clean?
Yes.
tim milne said:
People watch free content on YouTube because it's an easy way to waste a few minutes while they should be working. For a lot of them, their commitment and enthusiasm is very ephemeral.
I think this^^ is the crux of the matter!For the vast majority of people currently watching DRIVE vids online, those videos are really just an "interesting distraction". You click on them because they are easy to access, and wastes a few minutes keeping you entertained. The cost of doing so (having a computer/smartphone and internet connection) are really hidden from the end used, because you have them anyway.
Once you get a specific pay-per-view channel, everything changes i think. Suddenly, you have to WANT to watch those videos, almost irrespective of how much or little they cost to watch. It's a bit like clicking on "funny cat" links sent on BookFace or whaterver. 25M people wouldn't watch a cat falling off a sofa if it cost then even as little as 1p!
It will be fascinating to see how many real enthusiasts put their money where their mouth is and subscribe. I can't really see me bothering tbh, whilst i like cars, i'm not sure i'm interested enough in them to pay specifically for that service?
It's always struck me that part of the success of TG is that the have a fixed yardstick - the track - that actually gives a fair indication of how fast things are. Of course, being TG, they blatantly fix it. But it's nice to have a fixed reference point - even if it means nothing in the real world.
The problem isn't how much it costs its the fact that it costs, I know that if I am forced to sign up to something online then I probably wont bother, If it requires me getting my wallet from half way across the room the chances are close to zero.
It might work better as an app rather than a youtube site, costs are probably higher but still its easier to get a £1 a month from peoples account when you dont need to do anything new to get it, that way the articles and everything else could all be in one place (Might even make it easier to keep hold of content)
On thing I never understood with Youtube is why they stick the adverts at the start of something like this, add 1/2 shorter ones at a natural break of a 3/4 minute program and you must get a bigger uptake, maybe a little editing is in order if its possible.
Best of luck but I doubt I will ever get round to signing up, not because its not worth it but because I am lazy.
It might work better as an app rather than a youtube site, costs are probably higher but still its easier to get a £1 a month from peoples account when you dont need to do anything new to get it, that way the articles and everything else could all be in one place (Might even make it easier to keep hold of content)
On thing I never understood with Youtube is why they stick the adverts at the start of something like this, add 1/2 shorter ones at a natural break of a 3/4 minute program and you must get a bigger uptake, maybe a little editing is in order if its possible.
Best of luck but I doubt I will ever get round to signing up, not because its not worth it but because I am lazy.
The problem I have is with the exclusivity of the content. I was looking forward to Drives review of the Laferrari but Autocar, EVO and CAR all have video reviews out since April.
Chris's video are top class, there's no denying it, but am I missing anything special?
I hope they do well , I've no issue with a subscription fee, but I can't see many people keeping a long term subscription unless you are getting something you can't get somewhere else.
Chris's video are top class, there's no denying it, but am I missing anything special?
I hope they do well , I've no issue with a subscription fee, but I can't see many people keeping a long term subscription unless you are getting something you can't get somewhere else.
At first I thought "no way I'm paying to see videos" but then I realise how much I enjoy Chris' videos.
But here's a thought (or two):
- I hope the videos will be free of advertisement (either in the video or the webpage)
- Why use Youtube? Why not use Vimeo? The quality seems to be much better.
But here's a thought (or two):
- I hope the videos will be free of advertisement (either in the video or the webpage)
- Why use Youtube? Why not use Vimeo? The quality seems to be much better.
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