this is exactly what is missing right now, i cant wait to hear more

I have to agree.

Andrew....you're right, focus on creativity. It's cool that Rocketboom has pioneered video blogging way beyond the tech world. The world of technology innovation is where we're all starting, but, thing is, there is so much more great things to cover -- culture, politics, world affairs -- so many areas that will surely be addressed by you and your network and others.

Good luck with Abbey and continued success in the New Year.

Andy

Andy

Great idea, Drew. Why set up another box to try and keep people and ideas inside -- better to help them create and then let them find revenue wherever they can.

I hope you're able to execute on a very promising vision. I've been talking with Chris Brogan about the very same for months - that what content producers need access to as part of a network is something they can't get access to elsewhere, like improved tools to either grow their content or grow their audience. Ad networks are nice but ultimately leave you to your own devices, and don't help you build audience. My thing is audience - I love learning new ways of growing audience, because if you can build enough audience, ad sales will kind of take care of themselves.

Interesting. Almost every conversation I've had lately has been about content, not about advertising sales. That's why we have a separate sales team -- to focus on sales and getting us revenue so that we can continue creating fun, interesting, educational, entertaining, content. Er, videos. Er, podcasts.

Now, if I quit PodTech and come to work for Abbey, will Abbey buy me a new Sony HD camcorder? Microphones? A new Mac?

Will it pay me a good salary to do my show? And to live in Silicon Valley where all the world's top tech companies are? (Housing is expensive here). Will it help me get a bigger audience? How? Will it give me a Google AdWords budget? Will it mind if I also put Google ads or FM ads on my content? Will it do things to recognize me, like Vloggies (hey, you won one!)? Or things that'll make my job easier when I attend big industry conferences like CES (would love to have you at our BlogHaus)? Will it get me access to the world's top people, like, say, a top Hollywood director or a Presidential Candidate (both of whom we're meeting with this week)? Will it pay my travel expenses so I can go to Europe or other places to create content (Eddie and I just got back from separate trips there)? Will it pay my family's health care so I can create content without worrying about my son getting sick? Or getting cavities? Will it pay for an office and a studio so I can create content without having to do it in my son's room?

Does Abbey have relationships with the top tech companies? Can you drive over and see Google and have lunch with, say, the Google Video team? Translation: can you get my videos/content top distribution on the top networks? You've demonstrated you can for Rocketboom, but it's a lot harder now.

I don't know the kinds of things that content creators are telling you that they need, but these are some of the ones that folks are telling me that they'd like, if they are doing it professionally (translation: if they want to quit their day job and do it Rocketboom style).

Oh, and can you give me all that without making me chase dollars and hire lawyers to make sure I'm getting a good deal? Even with FM, you should have a lawyer look over the contract and, even then, they can't promise you a paycheck, only a share of revenue. What happens if their ad salespeople aren't any good? Are they willing to guarantee you a set amount every month? Last time I checked my mortgage doesn't change from month-to-month, while most advertising paychecks will.

But, I sure am looking forward to quiting my day job and joining Abbey! Sounds like fun! Can't wait to see how you help me create more fun, educational, and interesting content.

Robert, in short, yes, full service will be avil. I think you will be impressed once you see a list of partners and services to boost the catcher mitt flow.

We are also takeing heavy international action.

There is the popular saying, "If you build it, they will come".

I'd add at least one word:

"If you build it great, they will come".

Don't tease me about quitting, I couldnt pull a Calacanis on Furrier now :)

OK, that sounds interesting, but how are you paying for it? And, what is a content guy like me giving up in exchange? There is no free lunch, like they say.

I can't wait for someone to come along with a Web 2.0 business model that doesn't revolve around advertising or transactions.

And, if you are promising goodies without having a business model, then they are empty promises, don't ya think?

"And, if you are promising goodies without having a business model, then they are empty promises, don't ya think?"

Nope. Enter Jeff Pulver.

Cool, I have watched Jeff for a long time (I used to run a NetMeeting site back in the mid 1990s and watched his site cause he was an authority on VOiP).

But, Jeff's business model is to run conferences and take advertising (conferences use a sponsorship model, which really is advertising when you get down to it too).

So, are you saying that instead of selling ads you'll sell sponsorships for your members?

That's cool. It's a model I believe in a lot (thank you Seagate for sponsoring my show!)

Drew,

We are waiting on you and Jeff to deliver something wonderful - we have faith in you both.



Don't let others pick apart your vision. Just do it! Demonstrating success is far more powerful than simply blogging about it, one post at a time. We have your back.



All the best from the ListenShare team,



James Harris

CEO

ListenShare

Disclosure: I work with Jeff, but I have as much insight into Abbey as what you do reading the blog at this point.
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I agree with Chris Penn and some of what Robert points out, that some of the services that aren't about chasing ad dollars would be interesting. For instance, I can name about seven internet TV shows or videblogs that would really SCREAM if they just got better lighting and some microphones near the speakers' mouths.

I think reeling in attention share is important, and will matter in the niche-diving that some of the best shows can accomplish. What I love most about PodTech is that they go laser-etched deep into their niche, and really benefit their core audiences (Enterprise tech guys for the shows I used to listen to back in the day). I hope Abbey helps better marry deep niches to the shows that will play best to them.

I'm so excited about 2007. Collect your new media experts and your interface-to-the-real-world experts, and go pull a Calacanis! (what a swell verb).

Yes, very interesting. Your approach sounds more geared to those of us who seek to advance the business model, not graft old ones onto new intersections of content and communities. Strong content associated with engaged communities -- that's the ticket.

Here, here. As producer of the Interviews Podcast, I've been dreaming up a nice studio for audio and video interviews and other new media projects I'm currently working on or planning. Something like Abbey might bring me closer to that goal without having to incur great expense upfront.

Another thing is that such costs are not feasible at this time. For the past year, I've been quietly growing a great podcast which has attracted sponsorship interest from Cisco Systems, is quickly approaching the 100K mark in downloads, and features an A-list of appearances from airlines to VoIP -- not to mention nearly every damn multi-national company on the planet has heard these interviews.

So, for now, I continue producing content and marketing myself and these podcasts on practically an "invisible budget." I strongly believe 2007 is the break out year for the new media producer (my new title for the past year), and maybe Cisco (or some other company) might finally step forward and sponsor the hard work I've done this year -- or, with the promise of Abbey, produce even better content without the need for a major sponsor. I guess we'll see.

Simply stated "its all about content"

If the content is good, people will watch it.

Mazel Tov guys...all the best!

-Bill