When are we getting 4K video?

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41

Fair points, though I don’t think that people gravitating towards “less gimmicky” presentation styles as they get older means they will come to TWiT. I don’t assume that’s the case, not without some examples. There are people over the past 15 years of TWiT who have crossed the threshold of youth into middle age, and yet the vast majority of people here - just anecdotally speaking - at least in part joined because of the G4/Tech TV and radio legacy, and a few discovered TWiT during the early days of podcasting when there was a lot less competition.

I also think discoverability now is a huge problem. How do you think these current teenagers and twentysomethings will discover TWiT in the future? Is there a massive number of people finding the podcast right now via podcast apps or social media? Maybe they are, but if so I don’t know that will continue.

I competely agree that TWiT has a loyal audience and has carved out a niche, but it’s largely tied to Leo. If he ever decides to hang up his hat (let’s assume it’s that and not the other thing) I don’t think there will be much of a long-term future for the network. TWiT is great, and the shows are excellent, but charm isn’t going to grow it and keep it alive forever.

I think they want to make the network be able to run without Leo (even just for his vacations, nevermind retirement), and I think that a broader strategy to modernize bits of TWiT isn’t a bad thing, and can help make it more resilient. The hosts filling in for Leo do an admirable job, but considering the number of failed shows (many without Leo) I don’t think it’s a guarantee the network could hold up indefinitely, particularly if sponsors decide it’s not worth it without him: he is The Tech Guy, after all.

I think it would be wise to at least take a look at what LTT/Floatplane is doing, it’s not just about appealing to ‘da kidz’. Not necessarily their subscription model on Floatplane, but rather that they are running both their own platform (Floatplane) that plays host to other content creator a well as serves as a safety net, as well as using Youtube and Twitch natively. Keep in mind that at no point was I suggesting all of TWiT’s shows change, and I think most (particularly TTG) should be left untouched. New shows, however, could be launched on a smaller budget and still have video (even possibly 4K video) if they were done this way, and less beholden to the old TWiT style.

Going by STT’s testing of Twitch for communicating with audience, it seems like the network is willing to explore the new platforms, but it’s likely to have limited success if it’s just dipping a toe into the waters rather than fully utilizing them and tailoring content for those avenues.

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42

This is some crazy experiment. Podcasts are considered mainstream and still do not make as much money. The legacy of the studio is resting on an older audience. The community is driven by brainiacs. There is no round the clock production, it’s 11-6. So far, audio quality is preferred over video, this is 5 years later.

43

I don’t need 4K but I do want video podcasts. If editing is too expensive, then just post it unedited!
Thanks!

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44

I disagree, I’ll never be middle aged.

45

Yeah I agree 4k is not needed for these podcasts, the quality of the video downloads is good enough. I agree with Leo the video quality is fine and a good sweet spot for the content . Most people still are without good internet now as others have said.

46

Yeah I thought you guys only did 720p.

Honestly when I saw the question I was like: Whoa, hold your horses there. Lets see if we can get 1080p first. :roll_eyes:

I know I’m kind of an odd one. I watch the podcasts as downloaded video off of a 1080p TV that I have connected as a second screen on my desktop computer. So I’d use 1080p if it was offered. But, I’m sure I’m the sever minority of the audience. :man_shrugging:

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@MaryJo @thurrott
Ha! That’s a good one and I agree. I could say the same for many others hosts as well.

48

I agree. The 720 is just perfectly fine - when you consider what is being recorded. 1080 and higher is not needed

49

I’d rather they stay at 720P and uses the cost savings to give us more content. 4k is great and all, but I don’t think that TwiT would benefit from the upgrade.

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50

You still think there’s more content? For the most part, all we’ve heard is the audience.

51

I wish. The only thing available to me is DSL. We practically have to turn off all our devices in order to stream Hulu without it buffering to the point you can’t watch it.

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52

Did you see this:

53

That’s not the norm but that would be a limitation of your telco’s wiring. Especially since ISPs and transit providers are going for 100G access cores.

If you can get DSL, you should have access to other sources of broadband as well.

If not, you can bug congress about your area and bring in fiber or cable access. There’s similar regulation in Canada because of legislation requiring competition.

You and I raise the same point about numbers. 1 in 5 means four of your neighbors can get good access and perhaps other services like IPTV.

54

Good. More numbers means we can analyze more metrics. But that may mean we’re still tied to a budget. Another 5 years before we get the benefits of content?

55

What do you mean “benefits of content”?
Sorry @BACONATOR26 but you are really losing me as far as what point you trying to make.

56

Ok. Leo is right. Let’s get back to making content. Stereo only, if we have to.

57

I don’t want bigger shows or more advertising (especially as 90% of it isn’t relevant to non-US listeners/viewers) and I don’t want celebrities or high status guests, I want guests that are very knowledgeable about the subject being discussed.
I think, if you are talking about the intricacies of phishing attacks, vulnerabilities in the IPv4 stack or Zuckerberg’s/Musk’s latest foot-in-mouth event, you want someone who understands the subject, not a “celebrity”.

58

I know TWiT because I discovered it on iTunes back in 2008, when I had quit a job and was working out my notice, they stuck me in an office on my own and I had to kill 8 hours a day for 3 months, tidying up documentation and loose ends. I heard several TWiTs and the whole back catalogue of Security Now, Windows Weekly and Mac Break Weekly… We never got TechTV over here (Europe) and none of the people on the shows were known to me, but I loved Leo’s style and was hooked.

59

Yip, ISDN and 56k dialup, at least. :stuck_out_tongue:

60

Don’t laugh. You can dual bond those connections as well!