VIDEO: Selling out isn't easy

Ryanne and I have just signed a one-year deal with Podtech to license our videos on "sustainable culture".
What??!
Watch the video and then read....

Download The Video

For over 2 years now, the Videoblogging Group has discussed money and advertising.
I've always been a pretty big opponent of traditional models creeping into our new art form.
Check out this video I made in 2005.
So you can imagine how skeptical I was when Podtech approached us.

Here are three reasons the deal made sense to us.

1. We own our content. After a year, Podtech will have paid us to create a library of videos. They didn't even flinch when we negotiated this point. They deserve credit for this alone. Podtech will have exclusive rights to put ads on our videos.
2. Shows are different than our personal videoblogs. Ryanne and I each have our own blogs where we'll keep posting our crazy videos. Advertising would never work there. But RyanisHungry is our attempt to create themed content that basically takes the best parts of TV programming and applies it to the web. We'll be focusing on personal stories of people changing their habits. Here's an example. So far, Podtech has made clear that we have editorial control as long as we focus on sustainable culture.
3. Guaranteed money. Podtech is giving us a set amount of money each month. We certainly aren't getting rich, but one of us can work on these videos fulltime since it's content we believe in. I'm not sure I trust the "advertising revenue sharing" that other sites like Revver are pioneering just yet. To me, only the most popular videos can make a decent living for ads clicks. I also don't have time to go out and find customized sponsorship.

I hope that we can set the example for future deals that will be fair to both videobloggers and companies. I give Podtech props for being so progressive during this honeymoon period. We expect to continue working well together. I give a big shout out to Morty Wiggins and Colette Vogel (who wrote the Legal Guide for Podcasters) for helping us through this process.

So watch our for the first videos starting on January 15th. Two videos a week for a year. oh boy.

UPDATE: Some people have emailed asking if we were now employees of Podtech. The answer is no. We are simply licensing video we make to them. Ryanne and I will still be doing outside work. This is the beauty of it. Getting paid to make content. Be your own boss. If you make good, regular content, I believe people are hungry for it. Creators now have the power.

Comments

[Jonny Goldstein]

Sounds like a good deal all around. You guys get to make content you care about, get paid, get to keep ownership of it, and podtech benefits from your bringing them viewers. And you can keep on making your own personal stuff. Look forward to seeing what you do on this new project.

[Chris Daniel]

Very cool. I would love to make money for doing something I love. Congrats to both of you!

[Greg Rose]

Yo!

That is really great! Good for you! I am glad I was able to contribute my small little part. Hope it helped with the "pitch".

I will be watching weekly.

[tagami]

Thanks for sharing your conversation with us, and Congratulations! Were those vloggies I saw floating behind Jay's head? Being a hippy isn't half-bad, really!

[taulpaul]

That's great news guys. If you need any contacts for sustainable design and architecture, I have a few people that would be great to interview, and are leaders in their respective fields.

Good luck, and you guys deserve it!

[Chuck]

Congrats you guys, that's great!
Mostly I really enjoyed just seeing and hearing y'all talk. You are a soothing presence.
Except Verdi. ;-)

I'm lucky enough to have a similar arrangement, making videos I love, getting paid, and I guess I "co-own" the content. It's a series profiling MInnesota artists with the Walker art center, it's super creative and I absolutely love doing it.

Isn't it great we're getting to this point of being paid to do what we love, making videos about things we care about?

[Steve Woolf]

I'm glad you guys got what you were looking for. It's really amazing to see the world of online video continue to evolve, and that the people who deserve the deals are getting them. Very fortifying.

[Andrew Venegas]

congrats!

[Mary Matthews]

Congrats. Deserved.

[Carl Weaver]

Congratulations! Such great news. I have always thought you guys would profit from this because you are so passionate about not just creating your art but also helping others do it as well. The good will nature of it is part of what makes it all so cool, magnetic and accessible.

Just don't forget about us little guys when you are driving around in your BMWs! Congrats again!

[jay dedman]

jesus...where are all the comments saying I sold out...
come on.

[paul]

This is a great move by PodTech, enjoy yourselves!

[Adam]

Good luck you two I hope it goes the way you want and you get freedom and a paycheck!

[ryanne]

you sell outs
what ever happened to independent media?
not everything is about money.
i have no respect for you any longer....

that's what i thought people would say.
i'm glad it hasn't been the case yet.

[Rudy]

Good show guys!

I mean good show in getting the deal ... not your show itself.

I mean your show is good as well ...

Damn it ... I always sound like a 'tard.

Seriously, congrats!!!

[Steve Elbows]

Do you get any say in what adverts get attached to your videos?

[jay dedman]

Nope. We have no say over the advertising.
They get our videos for one year exclusively...to use in any way they want.
Then we retain ownership to do anything we want.

[Chuck]

Jay and Ryanne?

Yeah, I dig their early stuff. You know, before they sold out.
Now they're driving around in their elitist BMWs, bodyguards in tow,
and I can't take a frakin' bus without seeing their faces shoved down my throat.

** This has been a hypothetical one-sides conversation, circa 2007 **

[Richard]

This is great! You deserve it, and I really look forward to seeing more of your videos on sustainability. I've enjoyed the ones you've done so far, very much. Congratulations!

[Richard]

Some questions:

1) During the year period, where, exactly will the videos most likely be posted? (Will there be a url and blog type thing where I can go to see all of your videos on sustainability)?

2) During the year period can you do whatever you want with the videos too, or do you have to wait until the year is over?

3) Will I be able to subscribe to a rss feed for this series of videos? If so, will it be different than the ryanishungry feed I already subscribe too?

[jay dedman]

1) During the year period, where, exactly will the videos most likely be posted? (Will there be a url and blog type thing where I can go to see all of your videos on sustainability)?

--Podtech is creating a page on their site where the videos will be posted. The vidoes will be hosted on the Podtech servers for the year. We can link to the videos from Ryanishungry...just so we're linking to the videos they are hosting so they can keep track of traffic.

2) During the year period can you do whatever you want with the videos too, or do you have to wait until the year is over?

--not sure I understand this question. Podtech will have an exclusive license, so we can't do anything we want with them. The videos must be hosted on the Podtech servers.

3) Will I be able to subscribe to a rss feed for this series of videos? If so, will it be different than the ryanishungry feed I already subscribe too?

--good question.
I assume as long as post links to the videos...the RSS feed will pick them up. We're in the process of figuring this out.

[jay dedman]

More info on Podtech's strategy here:
http://tinyurl.com/y8wauj

[Jill Foster]

Congrats! That's excellent. I'm a new vlogger & vlogosphere loyalist meeting with Carl Weaver & Jonny Goldstein aka blowhards -- kidding! -- for DC Media Makers. I've really enjoyed your content. Podtech's doing great stuff with great partnerships; congrats on this opp.

[Sky (Jim Schuyler)]

Congratulations. Commercial sponsorship for a GOOD MESSAGE is fine in my book. Just keep that message coming out clearly. [Sky]

[pablo]

And so the cycle begins...
Hippies turn into Yuppies turn into to Fascists! Watch Out!
Don't let the bastards grind you down!