“Quick” pod update

Hey guys, Matt here as always. Just wanted to give you guys an update on what’s going on behind the scenes here with the pod and what the future is looking like.

Tuesday marked the 10th episode of the pod we’ve done on Twitch, and as such the 10th episode of the pod we’ve done with a full video production too. Some of you may know this and some of you may not but the studio space we use for the podcast is hired on our behalf by Twitch ANZ. Our original deal was for 10 episodes (the last of which being Tuesday) and we have since renewed that deal with Twitch for an additional 10 episodes. At this time it looking unlikely that Twitch will want to renew this deal after this run is over. Hiring the studio space (and the staff who run it) is expensive, far more expensive than the money they make back from the portion of our Twitch subscriptions, and as such there will be a time where our arrangement will come to an end. There was mention of the possibility of Twitch getting a sponsor on board to help alleviate some of the costs of the show but, as I’m sure you all know, we’re not exactly the most sponsor friendly show.

Some of you have noticed the show has changed a bit since we move to Twitch. Not only are we a little more stifled in what we can and can’t talk about, we also have a live audience watching who we need to somehow include in the show. We’ve been workshopping ideas over the last 10 weeks as to how to strike a good balance between making an engaging show for our live Twitch audience as well making a coherent and entertaining podcast for all of you who watch/listen in your own time. It’s a constant struggle to make a show that appeases two different audiences at the same time. Work too hard to make one group happy and it sacrifices the quality of the product for the other. Speaking for myself here I know I’m not 100% happy with how the last 10 shows have gone and I think the boys would agree with me as well to varying degrees. As the biggest proponent for moving to Twitch originally; I acknowledge the troubles it brings are making us change the show in a way that I feel is a small, but still noticeable, net negative. For that I apologise.

The biggest positive it brings however is we now have video podcasts; something I’ve been wanting to do ever since I joined the team. When our deal with Twitch eventually ends I hope that we can continue to make video podcasts in some way, shape or form (albeit with much lower production value; we don’t have Amazon money).

We’ve been playing a lot of games lately on the pod and that’s something that will continue for the next few weeks. They work well for the visual medium and we’re enjoying making/playing them. I know some of you want us to talk about international relations for 2 hours and I know some of you want us to just smack each other on the bum every week so we’re trying to find a middle ground there as well.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well just I wanted to give you guys a midway point update of what the road ahead for us looks like. Currently we’re focusing on the next 10 weeks of shows and trying to work out a format that makes everyone happy. We’re not certain what the future of the pod is beyond that. There will be a pod; but whether it’s on Twitch, on video or just back to audio only is yet to be decided.

The good news is that the boys have decided to record a bonus audio only podcast every two weeks (additional to the Up Late Podcast) that will be free for everyone. I’m not sure if it will go on YouTube or not, that’s yet to be sorted out. You will not be charged for these extra shows; we will never charge you for more than one show a week.

I hope this “quick” update has been helpful in keeping you guys up to date with what’s going on with the pod and maybe alleviate some concerns you might have had about the direction of the show.

We love making this pod and we’re so thankful to all of you for listening to it. Without any of you the show couldn’t be what it is.