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| URL | http://twit.tv |
| Slogan | Netcasts you love from people you trust |
| Type of site | Internet Media Station |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | Leo Laporte |
| Current status | Active |
TWiT.tv, which is the operating trade name of TWiT LLC, is a podcast (though TWiT uses the term netcast) network run by technology broadcaster and author Leo Laporte. The network began operation in April 2005 with the launch of This Week in Tech. Security Now was the second podcast on the network, debuting in August of that year. Currently TWiT.tv hosts fourteen podcasts and several live streaming shows covering various topics including the internet, computer security, Microsoft, Apple, food and current technology news.
TWiT.tv owner Leo Laporte, in an October 2009 speech, stated that it grosses revenues of $1.5 million per year, while costs are around $350,000. [1] Later on October 24th 2009, Leo said during the TWiG show that revenues for the year would be closer to $2.5 million.
TWiT gets its name from its first and flagship podcast, the popular This Week in Tech and the logo design originated from a traditional logic gate symbol of an "AND gate" turned on its side.
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TWiT Live
Starting on April 30 2008 Leo Laporte began broadcasting live video from his cottage in Petaluma, CA at live.TWiT.tv . The format at times is free flowing however mostly serves as a live video feed of TWiT Network podcast creation. Guests usually appear via Skype for their respective podcasts, occasionally appearing via telephone when the Skype network has been down. Guests may also appear live in the cottage if they are in the area. Production is handled by Leo himself using a NewTek VT5 streaming to flash video sites Stickam and Ustream.tv and BitGravity for the main TWiT Live page. Viewers can interact with the show through either Ustream and Stickam's chat rooms or through an IRC chat room.
TWiT Live has been used to air live coverage of large tech events. Leo produced live coverage of the 2009 Apple WWDC complete with live leaked audio from the auditorium floor. The current record for coverage on TWiT Live is the "24 Hours of the iPhone" event, tracking the launch of the iPhone 3G around the globe as it went on sale in every timezone at 8am local. Leo stayed on air for the full 24 hours with only a few quick breaks. Calls were taken from people in line around the world, TWiT regulars, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Leo gave away 10 iPhone 3Gs during the broadcast complete with free audiobooks from Audible.com.
Current netcasts
- this WEEK in TECH
- Casually referred to as TWiT, and originally known as Revenge of The Screen Savers, this is the flagship netcast of the TWiT.tv network, and features roundtable discussions and debates surrounding the latest technology news. At one point it was offered in the most formats of any podcast on the network. These included a standard 64kps MP3, low-bandwidth 16kps MP3, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), and Ogg Vorbis versions. However, Leo Laporte announced the ending of the Ogg Vorbis version in August 2009 and finally the AAC and low bandwidth versions in early November 2009. The reasoning was the time and energy it took to encode all the versions of TWiT wasn't justified by the number of people choosing to listen to the show in those alternative formats. Bandwidth for the 64kps MP3 is provided by AOL Radio, this hosting is free in return for a mention of AOL Radio. The other versions, like most shows on the TWiT Network, were hosted by CacheFly. The show is usually posted every Monday morning at 1am Eastern to minimize the impact on the hosting company's servers.
- Security Now!
- Released each Thursday, Security Now! consists of a discussion between Steve Gibson and Laporte about issues of computer security and, conversely, insecurity. It was the second show to premiere on the TWiT Network, launching in summer 2005. To date, it has not missed a single weekly episode since it began. Every second episode consists of listener questions and feedback. Quick mini-shows have been known to be posted if a breaking or important news story concerning security develop during the week.
- net@night
- The first of the TWiT.tv shows to be broadcast live (via TalkShoe), net@night is hosted by Laporte and Amber MacArthur, and focuses primarily on the phenomenon of Web 2.0. It was originally known as Inside The Net until it was rebranded after its fortieth episode in the Fall of 2006.
- Daily Giz Wiz
- In this daily netcast, Laporte and Mad Magazine writer Dick DeBartolo discuss classic, strange and appealing gadgets. This program is also hosted by AOL Radio.
- FLOSS Weekly
- Currently hosted by Laporte and Randal L. Schwartz, FLOSS Weekly features interviews with key figures from the free software community.
- Futures in Biotech
- Futures in Biotech looks at emerging biotechnology and interviews prolific members of the field. It is hosted by Marc Pelletier.
- Windows Weekly
- Paul Thurrott and Laporte discuss Microsoft's software and hardware, including the XBOX 360 and Zune, in depth. Its first episode debuted in the Fall of 2006. It is one of the most popular podcasts on Twit.
- Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy
- Leo Laporte's syndicated weekend technology call-in radio show distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. Only ads read by Laporte are kept, station commercial breaks are cut out. Currently distributed on two-day delay at the behest of affiliate stations.
- MacBreak Weekly
- Mac focused netcast. With Alex Lindsay from Pixelcorps.tv and Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times. It is a weekly netcast covering all things Apple.
- Munchcast
- A food focused netcast hosted by San Francisco radio personality Cammy Blackstone and Leo Laporte. Returned from Hiatus because it won an Award.
- This Week in Law
- Law-focused netcast featuring Denise Howell, Cathy Kirkman, Ernie Svenson, and John Palfrey. TWiL debuted on TWiT's feed during a week TWiT was not produced in the Fall of 2006.
- Roz Rows The Pacific
- Interviews with rower Roz Savage's voyage as the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.
- This WEEK in FUN
- Hosted by Sarah Lane and Martin Sargent, TWiF discusses funny news stories from the world of technology, as well as within mainstream media. Currently the podcast is available in audio form, but there are plans to release it as a video podcast.
- Abby's Road
- Hosted by Abby Laporte, Abby's Road discusses teen podcasters and tech journalists in new media, social networking, and online journalism.
- This Week in Google
- Leo Laporte, Gina Trapani, Jeff Jarvis and their guests talk about the latest Google and cloud computing news. Recorded live at 6p Eastern/3p Pacific/2200 UTC on Saturdays and released later that evening.
- Dr. Kiki's Science Hour
- A show with Kirsten Sanford about assorted science topics. The initial episode was aired on April 30, 2009 on TWiT Live. Recorded live every Thursday at 3pm Pacific/2200 UTC and is released on Saturdays.
- NSFW
- Billed as 'TWiTs favorite mistake', NSFW hosted by Brian Brushwood of Scam School and Justin Robert Young, is an evolution of the BBLiveShow for the TWiT Live Network. Airs Tuesdays on TWiT Live and NSFWShow.com at 7pm PT with a podcast feed TBA.
TWiT Live shows
Currently five regular shows air exclusively on TWiT Live. Although it is planned that these shows will be released later as netcasts, currently they can only be watched live as they are recorded or during repeats after the live shows.
- Maxwell's House
An in-depth discussion with the former Lab with Leo Laporte segment host Ray Maxwell about how science applies to technology, with common subjects including color science, photography and how current and former technologies work. Airs Thursday at 2pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live.
- This Week in Computer Hardware
A show with PC Perspective founder Ryan Shrout about processors, hard drives, and other types of high-end, consumer hardware. At the end of the show, Ryan often asks a trivia question and gives away a prize to a randomly selected person who emails him the correct answer. Airs Wednesday at 3pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live.
- TWiT Fit
A Fitness show in which personal trainer, Al Scardino shows geeks some fitness techniques which can be used behind the desk. Airs Thursday at 1pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live
- East Meets West
A show with TechTV alumni Tom Merritt executive editor of CNET and Roger Chang senior producer at Revision 3, the show joined the TWiT Live network with show 172. The show discusses various topics such as tv, sports, technology, and politics. Airs Sunday after this WEEK in TECH at 5pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live, and is released in audio form at subbrilliant.com/emw.
- PC Perspective Podcast
A show with the staff of PC Perspective talking about hardware reviews, news and prizes. Airs Wednesdays at 7pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live, and is released in audio form at PC Perspective.
Former TWiT Network netcasts
- Jumping Monkeys
Jumping Monkeys was a netcast that focused on parenting in the digital age with Megan Morrone and Leo. Each episode featured an interview with someone from the world of technology who is also a parent. The hosts discussed interesting web sites from the three categories "spend, save, give" and read listener feedback. The show was 'on hiatus' for a number of months until Morrone confirmed on her blog that she would not return to the show.
Inside the Net was a weekly netcast with Amber MacArthur covering new and interesting aspects of the Internet. It has been superseded by net@nite in the fall of 2006.
- The Laporte Report
- A feed of appearances by Laporte on other radio shows, such as Bill Handel on KFI and John Donabie on CFRB.
- iLifeZone
iLifeZone focuses on the Apple iLife suite and other Mac similar applications. The podcast is now located at Podango.
The following podcasts were joint promotional ventures with Pixel Corps. They were co-listed on both TWiT.tv and the PixelCorps.tv websites, now only available on the PixelCorps website.
- Inside the Black Box
Visual effects focused. Now hosted by Pixel Corps.
- The VFX Show
Visual effects tips and tricks. Now hosted by Pixel Corps.
- This Week in Media
A show focused on analyzing media and the change to New Media. Now hosted by Pixel Corps.
Mac focused video show. Filmed in 540p HD. The podcast is now hosted by Pixel Corps. This is the video brother of MacBreak Weekly on the TWiT network.
References
External links
- TWiT Homepage
- TWiT Live
- TWiT Army
- TWiT Book Picks
- TWiT Picks
- TWiT Wiki
- Unofficial forum
- TWiT IRC Chat
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