Unseen TV: Leo Laporte Media (TWiT.tv, vidcast)

UPDATE: Michael reminds me: Leo started streaming live video in early 2008.

2008 As I See IT - Nice Fish Films | Michael Sean Wright

What was the biggest “story” of 2008 for me? It wasn’t the meltdown in the financial markets, the forced inevitability of political change or company A introducing exciting product. This was the year of us SEEING network differently. One of the great innovators in social-tech is Leo Laporte, he puts ideas into action daily. This year over 271,000 people watched his live streaming “24-Hours of the iPhone." These are truly staggering numbers. More people were watching Leo live than were tuned into MSNBC at that moment. Laporte has assembled his own DIY television network. His “netcasts” are heard by hundreds of thousands. He’s figured out how to make this social-net work. While you will see many stories of social-tool A, B or C in the year-end re-caps, they have forgotten the BIG story of the year. Leo Laporte changed the reality of what can be done on the socialnet. Take notice: The Revolution has happened this year. It wasn’t Televised - it was streamed, for free.

UPDATE: Economy Crashes, Leo Keeps Going

A shocking round of economic catastrophes dominated the news in the fall and winter of 2008. Revision3 cut loose Sarah Lane and Martin Sargent, of Pop Siren and Internet Superstar. They appear to have at least a temporary home at the TWiT cottage, to acquire new skills and/or work on their next show. Leo's pragmatic, low-key business strategy coupled with openness and generosity are what endear him to so many. 

Original Post:

Possibly the most well-known name in independent tech broadcasting, Leo Laporte is launching a low-key and yet bold move into internet television.

The TWiT.tv family of shows is going to go video, and Leo recently said he was planning to start with 25 hours a week of video programming. You tell me if that's a promise or a threat. He's been exploring tech options and I've watched some video via twitlive.tv Saturday and Sunday from 11AM onward. Leo is building out his office into a small studio, purchasing cameras and lights and talking about it during the process, as he did recently on episode 140 of TWiT.

Leo has a long history in broadcasting and his close pals from the defunct Tech TV include John Dvorak, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose and D. L. Prager. Amber Macarthur, Steve Gibson, Paul Thurrott, Merlin Mann and Andy Ihnatko all do shows on the TWiT network, and the Buzz crew Molly Wood and Tom Merritt are frequent guests, as are Veronica Belmont, Jason Calacanis and Robert Scoble. Leo has had some great "gets" over the years, including such internet-famous persons as The Woz.

Leo runs a small empire which isn't swimming in debt and seems to make enough money that talent and rent are paid by donations, appropriate advertisers, and well-done interstitials. In stark contrast to the standard raising of a butt-load of money from VCs and having a burn-rate that isn't necessarily sustainable, Leo has a more pragmatic and less risky approach.

Leo is the underdog mogul. He's got the numbers, the experience, the personal brand, the industry contacts, and the good will of a huge audience. He's nobody's fool and a genuine nice guy whose likely success no-one will begrudge. I admit, I'll be watching with some fascination how Leo's foray into TV plays out over the next months.
 

Video podcaster Dave Mora did this interview with me after the KGO Live event last weekend. He recorded it with a Flip camera. Thanks, Dave!