I'm all for people trying new ventures, but sinking almost $2B into a completely unproven idea is pretty reckless. Also, apparently Quibi just launched their TV apps yesterday? What a bummer that...
I'm all for people trying new ventures, but sinking almost $2B into a completely unproven idea is pretty reckless.
Also, apparently Quibi just launched their TV apps yesterday? What a bummer that they finished that off then shut down.
That’s one of the reasons they failed, though. Not having a way for people to watch on their tv on day one is just totally out of touch. It doesn’t matter that people watch things on their...
What a bummer that they finished that off then shut down.
That’s one of the reasons they failed, though. Not having a way for people to watch on their tv on day one is just totally out of touch. It doesn’t matter that people watch things on their phones—watching serial video on your TV is table stakes.
Not surprised at all. I remember being inundated with ads a few months ago about it and thinking “who asked for this?” It seemed like they tried to invent a market where people exclusively watch...
Not surprised at all. I remember being inundated with ads a few months ago about it and thinking “who asked for this?” It seemed like they tried to invent a market where people exclusively watch serialized TV shows on their phone. I thought maybe I was out of touch but I guess I was right after all.
I've updated the link to a new article now that Quibi has confirmed they're shutting down, which contains some statements they sent out about it along with some more background. The previous link...
I've updated the link to a new article now that Quibi has confirmed they're shutting down, which contains some statements they sent out about it along with some more background. The previous link was still just saying it was according to reports.
Some More News did a great piece on Quibi back in May. This news does fall in line with his idea that Quibi could possibly have been a grift to skirt around Hollywood union regulations (around...
This news does fall in line with his idea that Quibi could possibly have been a grift to skirt around Hollywood union regulations (around 15:50 in that video).
Yeah, I saw a tweet about the same, which was an aspect of this debacle I hadn't heard mentioned before. From there, found a more in-depth article from a few months ago: On top of everything else,...
Yeah, I saw a tweet about the same, which was an aspect of this debacle I hadn't heard mentioned before.
By playing credits between each act, instead of commercials, Quibi claimed a 10 episode season was actually 40 “low budget under 12 minute episodes”, allowing them to skirt SAG (actors union) and WGA (writers union) minimums. They were a scab-based business model.
From there, found a more in-depth article from a few months ago:
This won't surprise many. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the short-form (~10m) format doesn't take off on existing streaming platforms. State of the Union starred Rosamund Pike and Chris...
This won't surprise many. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the short-form (~10m) format doesn't take off on existing streaming platforms.
State of the Union starred Rosamund Pike and Chris O'Dowd. Episodes were ten minutes and took place in a pub before their marriage counseling sessions. This demonstrated that you can tell an engaging story with short episodes. I hope we see more in the future.
I don't see a need to rotate the screen to crop/modify the frame, though. It's a neat proof of concept, but largely useless.
I don't think it will as a standalone service like Quibi, but I do think we'll see short-form programming from existing streaming providers. Over the next few years we'll see more and more...
I don't think it will as a standalone service like Quibi, but I do think we'll see short-form programming from existing streaming providers.
Over the next few years we'll see more and more programs ditch the standard 30, 45, 60, 90 episode length, much like Too Old to Die Young did, and simply take whatever time is necessary to tell that piece of the story.
The episode runtimes for Too Old to Die Young were 93, 97, 76, 63, 76, 91, 70, 88, 69, 31.
Personally, I doubt such a thing will happen. People rely on the predictability of sitting down for an n-minute block of content too much. Maybe it becomes a thing for smaller-scale productions,...
Personally, I doubt such a thing will happen. People rely on the predictability of sitting down for an n-minute block of content too much. Maybe it becomes a thing for smaller-scale productions, but I think fixed episode lengths will remain for big, culturally important series like Game of Thrones.
for cable TV, definitely. But we've seen a few series already head in this direction. If its not working around commercials and all episodes are being released at once, there's no reason to stick...
for cable TV, definitely. But we've seen a few series already head in this direction. If its not working around commercials and all episodes are being released at once, there's no reason to stick to standard durations.
But we'll see. It worked out really well for TOTDY.
Yeah, I agree. Various Netflix shows have been doing this for years. I think in the first season of the OA there was an episode that was 20 minutes or under and another that was like 70 or...
Yeah, I agree. Various Netflix shows have been doing this for years. I think in the first season of the OA there was an episode that was 20 minutes or under and another that was like 70 or something. I seem to recall run times on the first few seasons of Orange Is The New Black also had a wide variance.
whoa! I watched the OA and didn't even notice that. The runtimes are 71, 59, 61, 64, 61, 31, 42, 50, 69, 71, 55, 63, 43, 48, 52, 43. I hope more shows start doing this.
whoa! I watched the OA and didn't even notice that. The runtimes are 71, 59, 61, 64, 61, 31, 42, 50, 69, 71, 55, 63, 43, 48, 52, 43.
If you can handle a slow pace and like the aesthetic of Drive or Only God Forgives, check out Too Old to Die Young to see how it feels. The last season of Orange is the New Black had a wide range...
If you can handle a slow pace and like the aesthetic of Drive or Only God Forgives, check out Too Old to Die Young to see how it feels. The last season of Orange is the New Black had a wide range of runtimes, also, if that's more your style :)
Season three of Stranger Things was within your ten minute range (Min: 50 / Max: 78.) Less dramatic than the others mentioned above. But it does seem to be happening already on a smaller scale.
If you do watch Too Old to Die Young, stick with it. You'll get used to the pace --- but it seems insane at first.
I wrote something about the pandemic killing their potential viewerbase, went back, and they mention it: The author says TikTok did better in the same environment, but I don't think the two are...
I wrote something about the pandemic killing their potential viewerbase, went back, and they mention it:
Quibi argued that months of stay-at-home lockdowns pushed consumers to TV streaming services and away from mobile-only video.
The author says TikTok did better in the same environment, but I don't think the two are comparable. Any top-down media company, like a streaming service or TV network, requires a somewhat captive audience. You're settled in for that 10 minutes, willingly resigned to watching that show on the service you're paying for. TikTok is free, constantly recommending new video, and you can crank out a few walking from one room to another (ill-advised, but possible).
I'm all for people trying new ventures, but sinking almost $2B into a completely unproven idea is pretty reckless.
Also, apparently Quibi just launched their TV apps yesterday? What a bummer that they finished that off then shut down.
That’s one of the reasons they failed, though. Not having a way for people to watch on their tv on day one is just totally out of touch. It doesn’t matter that people watch things on their phones—watching serial video on your TV is table stakes.
Perhaps lackluster numbers from that launch were the final nail in the coffin?
Not surprised at all. I remember being inundated with ads a few months ago about it and thinking “who asked for this?” It seemed like they tried to invent a market where people exclusively watch serialized TV shows on their phone. I thought maybe I was out of touch but I guess I was right after all.
I've updated the link to a new article now that Quibi has confirmed they're shutting down, which contains some statements they sent out about it along with some more background. The previous link was still just saying it was according to reports.
Here's the open letter about the shutdown from its founders: An open letter to the employees, investors, and partners who believed in Quibi and made this business possible
Some More News did a great piece on Quibi back in May.
This news does fall in line with his idea that Quibi could possibly have been a grift to skirt around Hollywood union regulations (around 15:50 in that video).
Yeah, I saw a tweet about the same, which was an aspect of this debacle I hadn't heard mentioned before.
From there, found a more in-depth article from a few months ago:
On top of everything else, Quibi exploits a union loophole to underpay workers
This won't surprise many. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the short-form (~10m) format doesn't take off on existing streaming platforms.
State of the Union starred Rosamund Pike and Chris O'Dowd. Episodes were ten minutes and took place in a pub before their marriage counseling sessions. This demonstrated that you can tell an engaging story with short episodes. I hope we see more in the future.
I don't see a need to rotate the screen to crop/modify the frame, though. It's a neat proof of concept, but largely useless.
For clarity: Do you think the short form content will or wont succeed? First paragraph says it won't, second paragraph seems to contradict this.
I don't think it will as a standalone service like Quibi, but I do think we'll see short-form programming from existing streaming providers.
Over the next few years we'll see more and more programs ditch the standard 30, 45, 60, 90 episode length, much like Too Old to Die Young did, and simply take whatever time is necessary to tell that piece of the story.
The episode runtimes for Too Old to Die Young were 93, 97, 76, 63, 76, 91, 70, 88, 69, 31.
Personally, I doubt such a thing will happen. People rely on the predictability of sitting down for an n-minute block of content too much. Maybe it becomes a thing for smaller-scale productions, but I think fixed episode lengths will remain for big, culturally important series like Game of Thrones.
for cable TV, definitely. But we've seen a few series already head in this direction. If its not working around commercials and all episodes are being released at once, there's no reason to stick to standard durations.
But we'll see. It worked out really well for TOTDY.
Yeah, I agree. Various Netflix shows have been doing this for years. I think in the first season of the OA there was an episode that was 20 minutes or under and another that was like 70 or something. I seem to recall run times on the first few seasons of Orange Is The New Black also had a wide variance.
whoa! I watched the OA and didn't even notice that. The runtimes are 71, 59, 61, 64, 61, 31, 42, 50, 69, 71, 55, 63, 43, 48, 52, 43.
I hope more shows start doing this.
Really? It would kind of piss me off to not have a standard +/-10 min episode length.
If you can handle a slow pace and like the aesthetic of Drive or Only God Forgives, check out Too Old to Die Young to see how it feels. The last season of Orange is the New Black had a wide range of runtimes, also, if that's more your style :)
Season three of Stranger Things was within your ten minute range (Min: 50 / Max: 78.) Less dramatic than the others mentioned above. But it does seem to be happening already on a smaller scale.
If you do watch Too Old to Die Young, stick with it. You'll get used to the pace --- but it seems insane at first.
I wrote something about the pandemic killing their potential viewerbase, went back, and they mention it:
The author says TikTok did better in the same environment, but I don't think the two are comparable. Any top-down media company, like a streaming service or TV network, requires a somewhat captive audience. You're settled in for that 10 minutes, willingly resigned to watching that show on the service you're paying for. TikTok is free, constantly recommending new video, and you can crank out a few walking from one room to another (ill-advised, but possible).
Quibi is a classic example of awful timing. With the pandemic, it had no audience of idle commuters.