#drivenetwork

MORE EXCITING THAN TOP GEAR?

Most know that I’m a die hard auto fan, and since the launch of the DRIVE Network on Youtube, I’ve been the most faithful of followers - a bit sick about it some might say (check the shirt in the first ever photo with my newborn son below - Hi Magnus!) .

It’s been weeks since DRIVE has released any new content, and I was starting to see some fairly funny lashing out from the online community – and some even funnier responses from the DRIVE crew, in particular Matt Farah (of DRIVE and The Smoking Tire) on his FB page responding to those complaining about the lack of new videos. 

It turns out, they were just figuring out how to fund their productions, as their deal with YouTube (who basically underwrote them) was up as of 2013. As it sat they were making revenue off of the advertising pre-roll shown before every episode, but that was only 55% of the revenue generated - YouTube takes the rest. Needless to say - they couldn’t continue to fund their production. A nice description from Chris Harris (the DRIVE hero) here. 

In an interesting take - they are trying a new paid subscription model, which I’ll probably be the first to sign up for, even at half the monthly cost of a Netflix membership, simply because their content is worth it. Well worth it if you ask me, and I’ll argue that until I’m blue in the face. 

Coming from the world of automotive advertising, it's all too well that I know the exorbitant amount of money that goes into shooting even :30’s of car porn, let alone 10-15 minute episodes. Even IF the DRIVE crew are nimble, efficient and frugal (which they clearly are), the last few years of their efforts are an outstanding accomplishment, and a testament to the passion and dedication these gents have to making beautiful content for the masses to devour, on the cheap. And, until now, its always been free (well, other than being forced to watch the first :05 of a ad before every episode, which I’ll gladly give them as payment) - we've got nothing to complain about. 

Finally, we will see DRIVE rise to the status, production quality (which was already astonishingly high), and popularity that it has earned. The folks at Top Gear, although fantastic, had better be cautiously watching over their dusty, anti-internet-everything shoulders - the new kids on the block are about to light the game on fire. 

Allan McNish Tells How The 2014 F1 Cars Will Drive - /SHAKEDOWN

Do You Deserve To Be A Faster Driver? -- AFTER/DRIVE