133 Podcast Answer Man – Leo Laporte Admits Nobody Cares About Video

Cliff, You have given some good informative podcasts but stick to what you do and not critique others. I think you have taken Leo out of context. His podcasts are an interactive conversation between him and his guests/audience. IF he really meant it as you seem to indicate then why is TWiT moving toward even more video and investing even more money in the video side of the house. Get back to evangelizing podcasting and stop spending your time trying to cut down others. To continue this approach will loose you listeners. Maybe you don't care about that but you should.

Concerned "anonymous" listener, I'm glad that you took the time to leave your comment. I wonder if you simply read the show notes or if you actually listened to the episode.

The title of this episode was deliberate. I chose it for the attention getter that it is. While I know that Leo doesn't believe that "nobody cares about video," his comments in TWiT episodes 218 certainly were authentic. When you look at the numbers, there is a truth to what Leo says. Barely 2 to 3 percent of Leo's audience watches the video content that he produces.

Why is Leo moving toward more video and investing more money in the video side of the house? That's easy to answer. He has told us that he feels that he's hit a ceiling as far as the growth of his audience.

Adding the video component, being avaialble on demand next to major media's content will only work to increase his audience. A worthy goal. I often advise podcasters to use other syndication channels, even if it's just creating a YouTube channel or a blog to go along with your audio content.

I am not opposed to Leo's goals and dreams of being available on every television. I think we should all dream big and if the dream is strong enough, we should put our available resources together to turn our dreams and passions into reality. I hope that he succeeds.

What makes me feel like you did not listen to episode 130 and 133 of this podcast is the fact that you believe that I'm trying to "to cut down others." with my coverage of what Leo says.

That could not be further from the truth. I admire Leo and look up to as a mentor in this industry. A personal desire of mine would be to get to meet Leo and maybe even be interviewed by him and Abmer on Net@Night based upon the fact that I've been able to successfully make a career out of podcasting and new media. I recognize that these episodes may jeopardize the possibility of that ever happening. At the same time, it could become the catalyst for a chain of events leading to this dream becoming a reality of it's own. Either way, I love Leo Laporte and am not trying to cut him, or anyone else down.

You are concerned that I might lose listeners as a result of continuing this approach to my podcasting. However, It as the initial statement where Leo said, "Podcasting, essentially is dead.... We knew it was dead from the beginning." that started this whole thing for me.

Immediately after that video of Leo went online, my email inbox was FLOODED by my listeners BEGGING ME to respond to Leo's comments about the status of podcasting.

After releasing episode 130, I received more feedback than any other episode of Podcast Answer Man. I believe that a majority of my listeners agree that the following things we've learned from episode 230 and 233 are important to the podcasting community

<font color="red">Here are some things that we've learned:</font>
How Leo got started in podcasting: I am often paid by people to share my story about how I got started. My audience was very appreciative to hear about the story of how Leo got started.

How Leo was a motivation for me to enter into the field of podcasting: Again, my audience has shown a great interest in my personal story. Leo played a large role in my story and that came out through these podcast episodes.

What Leo's audio quality was like when he first started: My sharing Leo's audio quality was like was not to cut him down. It was to build the confidence of all those who are just now getting into podcasting. If you listen to Leo today, his shows are professional and polished. However, the early days of TWiT were far from it.

This should INSPIRE listeners. Get out there and get started! Don't wait till you sound perfect to release your first episode! Just do it.

Leo Made 1.5 Million Last Year From Podcasting: I know many people were excited to learn about this. I certainly was.

Leo has already made 2.5 Million this year!: Once again, judging from the emails that had come into me from my audience, I know that this information is also inspiring.

Leo even stated, and it was quoted in this episode, that "there is money to be made doing this." Which is a whole lot different than "podcasting, essentially, is dead."

I could go on. However, I have more content to produce and consulting projects to complete.


If you hadn't posted as "anonymous," I would have been very hurt by your suggestion that when it comes to losing listeners to my podcast that "Maybe you don’t care about that but you should."

That, my anonymous friend, could not be further from the truth. 132 previous episodes of this podcast should be able to back that up.


As for your suggestion that I "Get back to evangelizing podcasting...", I fully believe that is exactly what I was doing with this episode. I'm sorry that you are not able to see that.

I think what Leo was saying was that in it's current form, no one cares about video -- and for the most part he's right. I don't want to be tied down to watch TWiT when he records it live because I can pop it on my iPhone and listen when I'm mowing or doing other things -- if I'm watching, I have to be engaged to get a lot out of it.

I think what he was really saying was that the number of people downloading the audio show vs. those watching the live feed are crazy lopsided. But that doesn't mean you should discount video at all... that's crazy talk.

Now, about the Podcasting is dead quote... as a whole Podcasts are difficult to understand to the common person... it's only after you explain to someone that:

1) it typically is free
2) it's in iTunes
3) it's free

then they get it... Podcasting will be dead if there's only one primary source to get them -- not everyone is on iTunes, and not everyone is educated... if you switch the midset from them being "Podcasts" to being shows on the internet, then a much more mainstream audience can follow.

Now, when he gets on the Roku box soon this resets the rules... his quote was made as it pertains to how his numbers for video are RIGHT NOW, with the new deal now if I want I can fire up a box on my nice big TV and watch his show -- like I did when he was on the ScreenSavers -- this is something great...

Chris,

I am right with you my friend. The only thing that I will add is that for me to pull him up on my HDTV, I want a show LIKE THE SCREEN SAVERS or at least a show "Made For TV."

I can't see myself interested in tuning in regularly to watch him talk to people on Skype while recording audio content for the masses. I can do that now with my computer hooked up to my HDTV and I don't.

I believe that Leo will expand and he will create new shows for tv. I have no doubt that they will be a huge success in the long run. I'm a cheerleader in Leo's camp for this to be a success.

The point of all of this is that there is still a great deal of value in "podcasting" itself.

You hit the nail on the head... People still need to be educated about podcasts and there needs to be more delivery methods for people outside of iTunes.

I couldn't agree more! I still believe that podcasting is in it's infant stages. It may "morph" into something else.

However, I still think the concept of subscription based media where episodes are delivered to you, easy to put on a portable device for listening anywhere, even without a connection to the net, will always be a main draw for me.

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for all you do and thanks for all the valuable information you've so freely given to many through PAM.

I've known of Leo for about the same length of time you have. I also used to watch the screen savers and have followed him over the years.

The one thing I've learned is to take things that people say with a grain of salt. People say things one day and then contradict themselves the next all the time. (re: politics) While Leo is not a political figure in the sense of government, he is a political figure in the area of tech.

In any event, I don't believe podcasting is dead in my area. My audience enjoys the audio only podcasts and I need to get off my butt and release another episode.

Please keep up the good work, Cliff.

Jerry

Nah, I think you're right. Leo is a very confusing individual. He says things without thinking them through. It's a throwaway message to him but to others that listen, those words mean things.

I'm starting to like Leo less and less as a person, but enjoy listening to his podcasts because of his co-hosts (Steve Gibson, Paul Thurott, etc)

I will admit, however, that I RARELY watch a live video of TWiT, or GSPN, for that matter. I like the "TiVo"-style of scheduling that podcasting allows. Now, If I happen to be on my computer when Security Now, Windows Weekly, or Family From the Heart is on, I'll watch the video. But if and when Leo puts all his stuff out on podcast video, I'll probably subscribe to that.

Could it be that Leo was trying to discourage other's from trying to crowd the market?

And if he simultaneously expands his video presence while downplaying video, it could also be a move to keep others out.

Leo has turned rather territorial and defensive when challenged on his credibility or intentions. Remember the blowup when he was accused of giving the Palm Pre a glowing review because he received a free evaluation unit? Leo dropped F-bombs and stopped the show, hardly a professional reaction to a low-ball accusation that was untrue.

Oh well, if you can challenge Leo, more power to you!

Tim,

I don't think Leo was trying ot discourage anyone with the statements from TWiT 218. On the contrary, he was actually trying to make a point that you don't have to spend $100,000 on video gear to do a podcast, that you could do podcasting at hardly any cost at all.

I believe that Leo's intentions are good. I don't want to believe that he's being territorial. I think he would stand to gain more from other people entering the new media space. But then again, he wasn't happy when NPR came on the scene in iTunes... So there may be some merit to your assertion. I just want to have a little more faith in Leo in this area.

As for the Blow-up with Mike Arrington. Leo has a very strong sense of ethics with it comes to journalistic integrity. I admire him for that and Arrington was pushing Leo's buttons. I've had days like that. I've ended shows before. It happens to the best of us.

I'm definitely not here to challenge Leo. If nobody's caught on by now, I Love Leo Laporte. (In a manly heterosexual kind of way -LOL). Seriously, I'm just into this waist deep because of the defense of audio podcasting via rss. It's simply not dead!

Tim, I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. I'm thankful to have you as a listener.

This is a Podcast Answer Man podcast and the platform for Cliff to discuss podcasting; the technical aspect and industry in general. I don't find Cliff's comments as criticizing another podcaster, but analyzing the business model and comments from a podcasting king, Leo.

More industry talk, as painful as it may be at times, is needed.

I heard the comment. I think Leo talks out of the side of his neck at times. He sez a lot of goofy things because he knows he can get away with it. They good thing about TWiT is that the back channel and front of cam collide an we get to see the things that maybe we should see from time to time. Hopefully Leo would screw up his relationships before he can transition himself out of the day to day front of cam but trust he will say other things that don't make sense before it's all over with. Who's got the popcorn? :D

@Netdoc66, I'm not sure I follow exactly what you're saying. However, I do agree that Leo sometimes will just say things without thinking about what he's saying.

I certainly do that a lot myself.

While I've never really been a fan of Leo LaPorte, I can appreciate all that he's done and the success he's been able to enjoy.

Having said that, I think this is another ploy to get people like us riled up. Leo doesn't really believe podcasting is dead. Nor does he believe that video is dead. YouTube remains one of the most popular websites.

One of the easiest ways to get traffic is to incite an argument. Good marketing idea. Maybe I should try that. :)