Whaaaaaaaat????? OF HAPPENINGS

"mr_gofast" (jake_berenshteyn)
10/13/2014 at 16:27 • Filed to: PSA

Chris Harris on Cars is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on YouTube and Vimeo and going solo, and free-to-watch, starting in November.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

(recopied from his blog above)

The Welsh borders, 12 Oct 2014

January 2012 seems a long, long time ago. Back then I was told by people who didn't know much that a web car video should be less than three minutes long and that overtseer was unpopular. I think we proved them wrong and am grateful to YouTube for giving me the chance to destroy tyres that other people pay for.

I'm also excited to announce that I've started working on my next phase of tyre obliteration and will be launching something new very soon. I'll remain a close friend of the /DRIVE brand and involved in its future productions, but will be offering even more access to my content through the next phase of Chris Harris on Cars, which will launch its new YouTube channel, free to air, November 12.

Special thanks go to Neil Carey, my sidekick in so many adventures and, if he can still handle the general mentalness, the man who will work with me on this next phase. Of course the biggest thanks go to all the viewers who have supported my little show. I look forward to welcoming you to the next phase very soon.

Best

Chris

Also a link to his best drive videos

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-videos/the…

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DISCUSSION (15)

Brian Silvestro > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:29

This is HUGE

a lot of people will unsubscribe to Drive+ now.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:29

I've been considering getting a subscription for /Drive, and may still, but Chris Harris's videos are by far my favorite. So I may just skip the subscription and watch his stuff.

mr_gofast > Brian Silvestro
10/13/2014 at 16:31

yup - i will follow the shit out of his free channel though

mcseanerson > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:32

This reads more like doing a solo album rather than leaving the band altogether.

Brian Silvestro > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:33

FOLLOWINGS UP THE ASS

The Real Dacia Sandero > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:35

YES!

The Drive+ thing pissed me off. I even unsubscribed from the drive channel as it was just an ad channel for their premium one.

I understand having a premium channel or subscription for extra content. Several podcasts and Youtube shows I follow do it, some of which I pay to access the premium content. But when you effectively get rid of all your free content, I lose interest.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:35

I almost feel bad for the /DRIVE guys but looking at the paid content.....it's the kind of stuff I skipped over anyways save for Harris' videos. I know they keep saying "It's less than the price of a good beer" but I would rather get the good beer.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 16:37

I completely understand why /Drive went subscription only. However, I think it's clearly a mistake.

At least, their pricing model is. Otherwise Harris wouldn't be leaving to do his own thing. I'm not really sure how /Drive should make their paid model work. I agree that with the expense of such quality content they ought to be able to pay for their production somehow . It's just that such an abrupt change has very obviously angered a lot of their fans. I like that they've started adding teaser videos back onto the site so there is at least something there.

My problem is that I am reluctant to pay $3.00 to listen to some guys just talk about cars. However funny, or much I might agree with them, I want to see some real in-car experiences.

I applaud the Marty and Moog of MCM for keeping their content free. I'd rather buy their merch than pay Google for permission to watch their content.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
10/13/2014 at 16:45

Hammer, meet nail. Head on.

MCM monetized their show correctly - I and many others buy the music and swag while they continue to serve up goofy crap and accept donations for some of their more ambitious projects like their cheap show car. /DRIVE has good "quality" but what they show isn't worth paying for. Not when Top Gear America is starting their second half of the season with two very good episodes. The first one being one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. Seriously, watch the september 30th episode.

Too many M's > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 18:11

/DRIVE has had some bumps...major bumps since the change to pay episodes. Chris was the main reason for me to stick around on the new pay channel but it took them a month to figure out how international viewers could see their content with little information.

I have a VPN to the states so I could see it on YouTube at home but I like to watch at work as well (German IP there). Even while waiting I enjoyed some content but there just wasn't the same amount that they had before. I felt as though the focus was on their NBC content as opposed to the YT content.

I appreciate their success but to ignore the paying customer seems like a black eye to those who want to support their business. Because although we know they love cars they care doing this a s a JOB. To make money. On an episode of /AFTERDRIVE they even mentioned they get tired of talking about cars all the time and I get that too. I don't know how much they make from each and I don't care so much. But give us some bloody feedback, the haters will hate but at least inform the supporters.

But this has derailed. Congrats to Chris and his new venture. I'll be glad to support you as well and am glad you could find other means to keep doing what you love to do.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > mcseanerson
10/13/2014 at 18:30

He's one of the "founders", but is he a true partner in the venture, when it comes to profits? I'd guess that'd factor in strongly. Smart of him to keep his own personal brand strong, separate from /DRIVE, even if he stays.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
10/13/2014 at 19:48

Are you talking about the Nurburgring episode? I thought it was okay. The one before it was rather good. I watch TGUSA and think it's quite good. Sure it's not TGUK, but it's not supposed to be. I like their differing approach to cars. What I do dislike is how much they "review" what happened just before the commercial break like we're a bunch or drooling, knuckle-dragging, simpletons who can't remember what they've just watch longer than 5 minutes.

I'm fairly sure we can skip the review. The rest is totally true of most 'Muricans.

Mosqvich > mr_gofast
10/13/2014 at 21:47

You assume it's going to be free.

William Byrd > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
10/14/2014 at 08:20

Agreed, TGUSA has been pretty fantastic already this season.

mr_gofast > Mosqvich
10/14/2014 at 08:36

when he quotes that in his blog - I like to accept it at face value.