Yes, we count downloads from Downcast and all other podcast apps.
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Video is a hard thing to determine by poll. Not every podcast lends itself to video - heck, even This Week in Tech could be audio-only as the visual elements arenât terribly essential to the content. Now - shows like Hands-On-Photography and (formerly) Know-How really work well with video given their subject matter. Hard to do an audio-only photography show, I would expect.
So itâs not as cut-and-dried a decision as it would seem.
For my part - I almost always do the audio version as I listen to the podcast (or even livestream) when Iâm at work or driving. Video is, by contrast, whenever I have the time to sit down and watch (like a tv show). The exception is the TWIT Live events for Microsoft and Apple - which I occasionally download and watch because I want to see the products as much as hear the commentary.
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I think some of the marquee shows that cover bigger topics are great in video to see the speakers, watch the emotion in their faces, etc. during the discussion of serious topics. Other shows are perfectly fine audio only. It could be an adjustment for people as they are used to almost all TWiT shows having video, but I think we could get used to it especially if it means a greater variety of shows could be produced.
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I tend to listen to the audio podcasts on my commute to and from work. If there is something particularly visual then I do try to watch that part again later through. I work in a school and when itâs just me and the site staff in during the holidays I do put on a lot more video instead.
For me it comes down to a lack of time to watch, so I listen whilst doing other things. I love having the option to watch as well as listen, but do understand the economics of audio and video production. Iâd rather have an audio only show instead of no show.
Absolutely. Subscribe in any app - they all download from Cachefly. Occasionally an app comes along that proposes caching episodes on the companyâs server. They rarely survive.
To be clear, itâs not 30K subscriptions. We canât count subscriptions. Itâs an average 30K downloads per episode weâre looking for.
I think what weâve learned from this topic and its brethren is that our most devoted fans like video. Not sure if theyâre fans because they watch, or they watch because theyâre fans. But either way we love you superfans, and will definitely keep that in mind as we launch new shows.
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Definitely a watcher here. I like to see the people Iâm listening to. Also, I work from home, so often have TWiT on the flat screen in the background for companyâŚlife can get lonely out here in rural Canada when hubby is away!
DownloadsâŚgot it.
Love 'cause I watch or watch 'cause I love? Hmmmm. For myself, I think watching drew me in more to the show, especially the hosts/guests. I have a stronger âlikingâ for TWiT shows than I do for non-TWiT podcasts that are audio only. Since this issue (audio/video) came up, as Iâm watching, I think to myself âlook what I would have just missed if this had been audio only.â So my guessâŚwe love 'cause we watch and watching builds more love.
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I seem to be the sort of person who gets more information from the interplay between voices, so unless thereâs something where I feel the visuals are likely to be really important, Iâm more likely to be on audio by preference.
Iâm subscribed to videos on my windows laptop using Gover podcast. However, I stream the episodes rather than downloading them. Does that still count?
I do both, watch and audio only. Although I prefer video, I am more than happy to wait until the subscribe count reaches the 30,000 mark.
Im definitely a fan because I watch. Please donât abandon video.
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Have you considered doing video with less production quality in order to save on production cost? That might offer a sufficient compromise for the viewers who really want video content, as they are likely the super fans who would watch just about anything as long as it doesnât roll. 
The argument of just showing video for the live recording of the audio only podcast might qualify as this?
I really do like that there are some video and some audio shows. I find some shows like IOS today really need video to make them work but others like TWIT and TWIG work very well as podcasts. I think a good balance is healthy in most things including TWIT shows.
True. I was thinking of a step further, similar to a non-profit that I work with. They do live-streaming of events, and thatâs the extent of the production. The video just gets added to their YouTube channel as-is, without any editing or post production, unless something goes horribly wrong at least.
And therein lies the rub. All our shows have advertisements. If we do video we have to offer video ads (lower thirds etc.) If we donât do video itâs much simpler. A ânon-editedâ video version would cause confusion with the sponsors; theyâd want to know where their video assets are. So itâs all or nothing.
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Very good point! I still have a foot firmly in the old-fashioned, live-to-tape, one line-cut is all you get approach to video production. Despite all this, much of the live workflow at the particular non-profit is derived from TWiT. Oddly enough, I still kick myself occasionally for introducing them to live streaming video instead of just audio. (And I still get poked every so often for the Tricaster we bought that turned into a boat anchor. Iâll get it fixed eventually!)
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Both! I prefer video
I consume the shows mostly on audio when I am in the office or on the go, but I enjoy watching the video when I have more time at home.
I understand that producing both formats might be more expensive and time consuming but itâs nice to have both.
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IMHO do what it takes too save money and ensure the longevity of TWIT.
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