Linux Action Show, huge changes coming soon

Posted by on October 26, 2008 Leave a comment (25) Go to comments

The first episode of The Linux Action show aired June 10th 2006. Since then it has become a huge part of my life. At first a weekly show, then as life caught up with Bryan and I it became a every other week show. I think most people realize the show does not start and end every other week and that there are always many things that need to be done between release days.

As the show has grown of course the community and listener base has grown along with it. I have formed habits of checking my email, twitter replies, forum posts and etc, about every 15 minutes that I am at a computer.

The main thing we always try to do with LAS (The Linux Action Show) is to push the edge, keep things fresh, and bring in new users to Linux. Bryan and I both know the only way Desktop Linux will ever be successful is bringing more users to the desktop… It’s the only way. There are many ways to accomplish this (winning over companies like Adobe, compatibility with current “standards”) but you can’t achieve any of them unless we significantly increase the Linux user base. We don’t think we can do this all on our own, but we do think we can help.

We have got to reach out to new users, hanging out at our own sites, using our own formats (Ogg/Theora) does not spread our message. At all. I content that in-order to reach new users and show them the features of the Linux platform you have to communicate and distribute media in a way they are familiar with, I’m speaking of MP3 and Flash of course. You can’t expect a life-long Windows user to go out of their way to Listen/watch a Linux show that is in a format they can’t even open or play, that is just irrational.

As we look at this situation, and we look at our lives we find our selves really stuck between that classic rock and that damn hard place.

Some week’s between Bryan and myself we are working 140 hours, on top of the man hours we sneak in-between that to focus on our community or record one of our other shows, and we love doing it. The honest fact is, it helps us scratch the creative itch that sometimes our day jobs just don’t provide. Plus we love talking and sharing about the stuff we think is awesome, Linux, Beer, Old Time Radio, Scifi movies and so on.

But there comes to a point where we hit a wall, a wall in terms of our time, a wall in terms of our audience size, and where we feel a bit stagnant. Not a bad stagnant, but just one that does not push our creative efforts forward and scratch that itch that drives us to make the shows.

So we have reached a point where we have decided to drastically change things up, for what we hope is the better. Starting with Season 10 of The Linux Action Show, there will be no more official Linux Action Show twice a month audio release. The Linux Action Show will transform into a series of mini-videos and episodes hyper focused on specific topics and released much more frequently than twice a month.

A key part of our plan is to leverage on-line streaming sites, like YouTube. We hope this approach drives a few key goals

  • A potential for a huge viewer base, YouTube has millions of users, it’s the #2 search engine in the world. We can deliver our views and message to a much wider potential audience
  • Dedicated episodes per-topic (or a few small specific topics) this means when YOU or anyone else wants specific information about Compiz, or the eeePC you search and find it. Getting you exactly what you wanted, not an entire 60+ minute episode where 10 minutes was spent talking about what you wanted to know more about.
  • Also this method takes a large load off Bryan and I. It gives us the ability to quickly create specific shows more frequently, but in the end will take less of our overall time. With Bryan’s crazy work schedule and my wife and I expecting our first child, this should be huge.

I know for many, this will be a un-welcome change. I know that many prefer the format of an hour long episode that acts as a companion in the background, we understand that… But truthfully there are many Linux shows now, and we need to differentiate and standout. We have got to find a way to break out of the base and get the message to the masses.

Who knows, maybe down the road we will look at this and decide it was a huge success, or maybe we’ll return to our original format. But for right now I know that it’s the move we got to try.

General Tech, Show Related, , , ,
  • Matt

    Well, you’ve just lost one listener. I like The Linux Action Show because it is a podcast, an episode I can listen to. I stay clear of crap like youtube deliberately. If you are running out of time, how about scrapping some of the other shows you introduced? They are all pretty average. The Linux Action show always stood out as a high-quality, well-produced show. RIP.

  • http://www.wastingtimepodcast.com rgspro

    I can understand why your changing things up. There are only three or four Linux Pod-casts I listen to. LAS was up there with the most informative and professionally sounding. With Lug Radio gone and TLLTS, great content, horrible sound quality, I guess I can move to Linux Outlaws as my favorite Linux show. I am not much on video shows due to I tend to listen to pod-casts while working or driving.

    I know how work, kids and other interests can really take up free time. Well, don’t mind me, I’m just whining about loosing a favorite show!

    Cheers

  • Kennedy808

    I totally understand why you guys would need to make a change like this, but from my selfish perspective, it’s kind of a bummer. I listen to the show on my commute so short video clips aren’t much use to me. If you also release the audio version, that would help ease the loss of the full hour show, but still I will miss it.

    Maybe lump all the mp3s into one big file each fortnight or once a month?

    By the way, what other Linux podcasts do you think are worth listening to? With LUG Radio gone, I picked up Linux Outlaws, which I enjoy, but it’s no LAS. I hear The Linux Link Tech Show mentioned a lot, but the production quality is horrible.

    What other Linux or open source based podcasts would you suggest?

  • Harsh Kumar

    Hi there,
    As you said some people will not like the new format. I liked the shoe when it was a hour long episode. I enjoyed it a lot. But I will give this new method a try. Your idea is right. This will make more people know about linux. Its good that you experiment with new ideas. But if this new format doesn’t workout, please return to the old way. I like it very much. This is the best podcast that I have listened so far not just about linux but among all topics. I will like if it stays like that.
    Harsh Kumar
    India

  • http://thermonuclearhamster.org Chris Fikes

    I will miss the hour long show, but you guys have to have a life also. Good luck with the new format.

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  • Martin

    Guys, I understand that this takes too much time for you and that you feel the need for a change.
    As a listener, however, this is a bummer to me. I listen to LAS during my commute or just when I have a walk (I need to escape from my computer screen from time to time and rest my eyes).

    I do very much enjoy getting all interesting Linux news and discussion WITHOUT sitting in front of my computer. I definitely won’t click through Youtube videos.

    LAS is great, I would love to continue listen to it. If you really think you need to be exposed to more audience, why not release some of your product reviews as youtube videos while keeping the audio show? If it’s too much time, you might want to consider a 3 week release cycle (actually, I’d rather have a monthly release cycle for Beer is tasty and Castablasta and the other podcasts) to keep LAS the way it is.

  • http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com chris

    @Martin

    That might be something we consider doing (the monthly or three week audio-recap release).

    We are still making plans for the other shows.

    -Chris

  • HammieTime

    I fell this is a step in the wrong direction. If all of the projects you do take up too much of your life, loose one of the new ones. You built your following on the podcast, don’t dis guard what made you special.

    LAS has helped me and I am sure many others. If really what to drop a podcast I would like place my vote for Castablasta as the one to go. I am tried of hearing about Lost.

    In my opinion, the wrong thing to do.

  • Brad

    I second the vote for an audio-recap release!
    I love the LAS, but never listen on my computer. I use gpodder to download the podcast to my mp3 player. I listen when I jog, when I commute to work, when I fold laundry, etc etc.
    Youtube only means I wont be listening anymore, so pretty pretty please Bryan and Chris, let us have an audio recap!

  • johan

    This is kind of a bummer, but I do understand that you guys want to stand out (which you already do simply by being the best show out there, and one that I actually like listening too, which I can’t say for many other Linux shows).
    Reaching out to new people = great, youtube = not my favourite site, but that might change now that we actually will get something other than concerts recorded on a cell phone on the site.

    Will it be possible to get the episodes through RSS? I really don’t know youtube too well, but as long as I can get the episodes downloaded somehow (which I hope I will be able to), I can convert them and watch on the train to school.

    Thanks for all the awesome content you guys are putting out, and good luck with this!

  • Nick

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  • http://www.drgnu.org(soon) Dr. Steve

    Chris,

    Well good luck with the balancing act!
    Glad you’ll still be making the show.
    I rather loathe YouTube because of the proprietary format (Flash) but I CAN download it to my computer to view things (and do fairly often).

    Any change you guys could post the shows at the Jupiter Broadcasting site for quick perusal (with the actual YouTube links) so folks like me who just download using youtube-dl can save the files for viewing using VLC?

    Wish both of you guys and your families greatness and GNU/LINUX freedom! You’ve been a great help to me and I appreciate it. I just got a GoDaddy host for my new website (moving away from FirstClass b/c its proprietary) and starting a new website.

    I will keep you posted.

    -”Dr. Steve” (a.k.a. “Dr. GNU”)

  • mikew

    well horse poop..
    this pretty much sucks…

    I understand that life gets in the way but it still sucks to have the best Linux podcast stop being a podcast…

    oh and there really aren’t that many Linux podcast out there, (well any that compare to LAS)

    I like listening to you guys on my mp3 player on my way to work..

    oh well, it was an awesome show and I’m gonna miss it when I’m commuting as it’s ill advised to be watching youtube vids while motoring down the expressway

  • markus

    I don’t have a problem that you are going to release on youtube. The problem I have is that i’m listening to your show when i play World of Warcraft. Thats why VIDEO sucks. + Video can not be longer than 10 minutes.

  • Sam

    I’ve listened from the beginning. A podcast is the most versatile form of media. Most people listen when they have free time, i.e. during a commute or at work. I really fail to see what the allure is with doing videos.

    Seems like a big mistake to me. If you’re intent on getting more exposure then widen your net with the podcast. The stat I’ve heard is that < 10% of people have ever heard a podcast. This number will go up. It is a new market that needs time to develop further. I think you’re jumping the gun here.

    I’ve been sampling some of Bryan’s video clips. If this is what we have to look forward to then I’m going to have to pass.

    Thanks guys for all your hard work with the podcast, and good luck with your new endeavors.

  • http://www.morning-hair.com Tommy

    From a marketing/SEO standpoint I can definitely see how this will benefit you and your show. But from a listener standpoint, this really blows. Just like you said, I and a lot of your other listeners like to have LAS playing in the background when we’re doing other things. Shorter video episodes means that we have to actively watch, listen and browse – instead of just being able to listen.

    So yeah, I think you’re going to be able to reach out to a lot of new listeners, but in the process you’re going to lose a lot of your old ones.

  • Chad

    I too am going to be sorely disappointed if we cannot get the content in podcast format. Go for the YouTube market, but don’t forget us that listen on portable audio devices.

    I actually like the idea of shorter podcasts that are focused on topics. I can drop several on my player and listen to them in series.

    Don’t forget to do “News” periodically. It’s a nice way to hear about stuff that I don’t have time to find on my own.

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  • dadexter

    Well, I loved the show, but this is a bad decision. You are alienating everyone who use portable music players, people who listen while commuting, command line Linux users, etc.

    Bad bad bad…

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  • http://linuxreport.info Kam Salisbury

    Audio only shows are better for already in the know Linux folks (most of the time) but I do have to agree that the video format will grab more attention from the non-Linux folks… which has been your focus for a long time. Good luck with the new stuff. The old stuff was good while it lasted.

  • Jason

    I have never really posted to any of the LAS blogs or websites; however, I have been with the show since episod 1. I found the show on itunes on a fluke and listened to every episode on my way to work. Kudos to you both on the great work you have done. While I will miss the show I would like to thank you for the time and effort that went into each show. You guys are real pros. Personally I think it’s the best podcast linux or other. I wish you the best in whatever you do.

    Ps. I really enjoyed the segment you did on the home theater.
    Jason