User:Jellyman72/sandbox

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The TWiT Netcast Network, which is the operating trade name of TWiT LLC, is a podcast (although 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 the network hosts nineteen podcasts and several live streaming shows covering various topics including Apple, Microsoft, Google, computer security, social networking  and current technology news.

TWiT founder and 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. Later on October 24, 2009, Leo said during the TWiG (This Week in Google) show that revenues for the year would be closer to $2.5 million. Originally, the network started solely from his own funding as well as setting up a contribution system similar to the public radio model (but not tax-deductible). As the network has grown, a market for advertising in podcasts also developed, and most of the current shows carry advertising. On December 12, 2009, a message on the network's website stated that Leo was going to modify the company's funding: advertising would be used to run the company, and any contributions would go solely for his salary. However, this caused such a sudden increase in donations that he has unofficially stated he would limit how much he takes as income, and save the rest in a fund for future projects, such as a new studio.

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.

History
The TWiT network was started by Leo Laporte in April 2005 after he posted a recording to his website, Leoville.com, of him and other friends from TechTV talking about technology. Within days, the recording had been downloaded by thousands of people all over the world, and TWiT was born. Today, the network has grown to nineteen shows, and now has millions of viewers from all over the world. They currently employ 17 people, with full and part time jobs. Their revenues currently exceed 2.5 million dollars per year.

Tom Merritt has joined the staff of TWiT LLC as of June 1, 2010. He currently broadcasts a 30–40 minute show, Tech News Today, Monday through Friday.

On July 24, 2011, the network moved from their former facility, the "TWiT Cottage", two blocks north, which had been in use since 2004, to a larger building known as the "TWiT Brick House", with the new studio facilities costing $1.2 million.

TWiT Live
Starting on April 30, 2008 Leo Laporte began broadcasting live video from his studio in Petaluma, CA at live.TWiT.tv. The format at times is free flowing, however it 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 studio if they are in the area. Production was handled by Leo himself using a NewTek Tricaster Broadcast in the old TWiT Cottage studios, but is now handled by various specialist staff using a Tricaster 850 Extreme streaming to flash video sites BitGravity, Ustream.tv and Justin.tv for the main TWiT Live page. Viewers can interact with the show through either Ustream and Justin.tv's chat rooms or through an IRC chat room. There is an approximate time delay of 5 seconds on the live stream.

TWiT Live has been used to air live coverage of large tech events. Leo produced live coverage of the 2009 Apple WWDC complete with a live pirate video stream from the auditorium floor. The current record for coverage on TWiT Live is the "24 Hours of the iPhone" event in July 2008, 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.

In January 2010, Leo Laporte and the TWiT team covered Consumer Electronics Show live from their stage in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. They covered two parties, Digital Experience Press Event and ShowStoppers Press Event live though an in-house built wireless broadcasting rig using a tablet computer which connected a camera and two microphones together and was streamed though EVDO and 3G cards. The broadcasting rig was made by TWiT's former Vice President of Engineering, Colleen Kelly. The trip to Consumer Electronics Show was sponsored by Ford Sync, Audible.com. Audio and Video podcasts were made and published on iTunes and on the TWiT website. It was the first time in a six year gap that Leo Laporte visited Consumer Electronics Show after the take over of TechTV. Laporte also announced that he was hopefully going to be back at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2011 which he did.

In May 2010, Leo announced that TWiT would do more live coverage of major events and breaking news. Since then, they have covered events such as Google I/O, WWDC, E3, Maker Faire, Dragon Con, South By Southwest, Macworld Expo, and the Consumer Electronics Show. They have also covered breaking news such as Eric Schmidt stepping down as CEO of Google, Hewlett Packard's acquisition of Palm, Inc, Steve Jobs' resignation and death, and various press conferences and keynotes from companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Leo Laporte has reported on The Weekly Daily Giz Wiz and Security Now! to have gotten an invitation to France, from President Sarkozy, to attend a G-8 summit on the Internet as well as such topics as security, use of the Internet, and how to protect yourself. This further shows the reach of Leo Laporte and TWiT.tv

TWiT Live shows
Currently two regularly recorded shows air on TWiT Live, all externally produced shows that are released on their respective websites.


 * 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.


 * This Week in Science: Kirsten Sanford's Weekly Radio show on KDVS 90.3 FM.

The TWiT studio
The TWiT cottage was the original studio where all of the TWiT shows were recorded and produced. The TWiT cottage was located at 8 Keller Street, Petaluma, California. The TWiT cottage accepted visitors from around 11AM until 4PM Pacific time, except for Mondays and Fridays, when they are closed to visitors.

The official move took place at 2 PM PDT on July 24, 2011. Dubbed, the TWiT Brick House, the name was conceived during a Daily Giz Wiz episode with Dick DeBartolo. This name derives from the fundraising bricks sold to defray part of the cost of building the new studio. The event garnered plenty of attention, and was live streamed via LiveU over 3G. CEO of TWiT, Lisa Kentzell took care of most of the arrangements. The 10000 sqft studio itself is only two blocks away from the original studio, the TWiT cottage at 140 Keller Street, Petaluma, California. The Brick House studio was designed by Roger C. Ambrose, and the building itself is the former home of BiAS Sound, as well as serving as a drug store, and was originally built as a furniture factory.

TWiT advertisers
Currently there are eight advertisers on the TWiT network. These include AOL Music and Spinner.com, which provide bandwidth for the network's audio podcast downloads. Cachefly currently provides bandwidth for the delivery of the network's video podcast downloads. Winamp has also started to provide bandwidth for select shows. Advertisers during TWiT shows include Citrix, Audible.com, Drobo, Ford, Mailroute, Squarespace, Carbonite, Tucows's Hover, Sling Media, Stamps.com, and ESET (as of June 1, 2010 on Tech News Today). Past sponsors of the TWiT network include Dell, Visa, Google, and Astaro.

Former TWiT Network netcasts

 * TummelVision: With Heather Gold, Deb Schultz & Kevin Marks. TummelVision promises to "explore the art of social engagement in culture, business and technology in the context of the social web, the Internet and the networked age." The show's website is TummelVision.tv.


 * 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: 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 (now The Social Hour) 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 moved to the podcast network Podango before ceasing production.


 * TWiT Fit: A Fitness show in which personal trainer, Al Scardino showed geeks some fitness techniques which can be used behind the desk. Aired Thursday at 1pm PT (USA) on TWiT Live, but has been discontinued.


 * 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. Host Sarah Lane announced on her blog that it would be going on hiatus for an indefinite amount of time.


 * Roz Rows The Pacific: Interviews with rower Roz Savage's voyage as the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. It ended after she landed in Madang, Papua New Guinea, finishing her voyage.


 * 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 aviation, color science, photography and how current and former technologies work. On June 24, 2010 it was announced that Maxwell's House 78 would be the final episode and had been canceled due to lack of advertising.


 * Current Geek Weekly: A show with TechTV alumnus Tom Merritt, former executive editor of CNET, and Scott Johnson at Frog Pants Studios, LLC, the show joined the TWiT Live network as a weekly show in addition to thrice-weekly short format show. The show discusses five to six geeky and nerdy topics of the week from video games, science and math. Airs Friday at 6pm PT on TWiT Live, and is released in audio form at currentgeek.com. It ended on January 14, 2011 as Scott and Tom decided to focus more on the Daily episodes instead, later morphing into segments on The Morning Stream.


 * Munchcast: A food focused netcast hosted by San Francisco radio personality Cammy Blackstone and Leo Laporte. Returned from hiatus because it won the 2009 People's Choice Podcast Award Food and Drink category. It is currently on hiatus due to scheduling issues.


 * The Gillmor Gang: The Gillmor Gang was more focused on technology reviews. TWiT ceased carrying the show when Mike Arrington, during the June 6, 2009 show, accused Leo of compromised journalistic integrity for receiving a Palm Pre 5 day review unit.


 * : A gaming podcast hosted by Brian Brushwood and Veronica Belmont debuted on January 15, 2012 that discussed and reviewed video games. Episode 13 aired on April 9, 2012 was its last.

Pixel Corps Ventures
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.


 * MacBreak: Mac focused video show. Filmed in 540p. The podcast is now hosted by Pixel Corps. This is the brother of MacBreak Weekly on the TWiT network.