This week’s edition of The Digg Reel was a very special episode, as Brian Brushwood, host of Scam School, joined Andrew Bancroft to bring some “magic” to this week’s batch of online videos. David Prager snuck into the planning of the shoot with a camera and caught some of the behind the scenes action as Brian and Andrew entertained the The Digg Reel production staff. We thought everyone would get a kick out of seeing it, so watch the above video and enjoy!

Hang out with Brian and the crew, and you may even get cast in an upcoming episode!

The Scam School shoots will take place:

Wednesday, Nov 19th
Time: 6p-10p
Bacchus Kirk
925 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA
http://www.bacchuskirk.org/

Thursday, Nov 20th
Time: 6p-10p
McTeague’s Saloon
1237 Polk Street
(Between Bush & Fern Street)
San Francisco, CA
http://is.gd/7ftW

We’d love to see you there!

I’m not the only one urging you to get out and vote. Andrew Bancroft, host of The Digg Reel, got a couple of friends together and created a video that does a far better job of encouraging you to hit the polls than I ever will. Check it out, and then get out there and be part of the process!

15 years ago we were posting magazine articles to the web; fast forward to today and it has morphed into blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

You’ve got to try a lot of different things to figure out what works. And the metrics for success also shift as the medium evolves. What’s right in the beginning often isn’t the best long-term solution.

We’ve had a number of great successes here at Revision3, including Diggnation, Tekzilla and The Totally Rad Show. But not everything pans out. Just as in the past, when we ended shows that just weren’t building audiences or driving revenue, we had to make changes. As you may have heard, today we had to make some tough staffing decisions as we ended the run of a few of our shows.

For our long-running Photoshop show Pixel Perfect, it’s the end of a show that’s done over a hundred episodes, and delivered essentially a graduate level course in graphic design and technique. For PopSiren and Internet Superstar, it’s the end of 2 shows that had great promise, but never really found their audience.

For two of the shows, we’re simply stopping our distribution agreement, but the shows will live on. You’ll still be able to watch Epic Fu, and Wine Library, both at their own sites, and through new and existing distribution partnerships. Epic Fu will be available on Revision3 through mid December, Wine Library ends its Revision3 run today. We remain huge fans of these two shows, even though they don’t fit our long-term plans at Revision3.

All past episodes of these shows, as well as all other shows no longer in production, will still be available for download from Revision3.com in our show archives.

Even though we’re sad to see these shows end on Revision3, in today’s economic climate it’s essential for us to focus on what we do best, and where the best opportunity for success lie.

We’re continuing to develop and invest in new properties. We launched seven new shows last month, for instance, on Revision3 Beta, and we’ve got high hopes for an expanded lineup there – and seeing some of that first crop graduate to Revision3.

We’ll be talking more about 2008 and plans for 2009 over the coming weeks. Until then, join me in thanking these show teams for bringing their insight and entertainment to Revision3, and wishing them well in their new efforts.

Revision3 shows have been nominated in the following categories:

• Totally Rad Show - Best Produced, Best Podcast
• Diggnation - Best Podcast
• Wine Library TV - Food/Drink

Congratulations to the Totally Rad Show, Diggnation and Wine Library TV for their nominations and may the best podcast win! Get your vote in as soon as you can, as voting ends on November 6th, 2008.

In addition to the Podcast Awards, we were thrilled to see that Fast Company named SYSTM as one of the Top 10 Gadget Sites on the Internet. Highlighting the fact that SYSTM is one of the best sources of information and ideas about modding your tech and great do it yourself projects.

Thanks to Fast Company and to everyone who nominated us in the Podcast Awards. We’d be nowhere without our awesome audience and we’re glad to hear that you enjoy our shows. You keep watching ‘em, we’ll keep making ‘em.

thanks.

The full Diggnation will be out Friday October 17th, but here are some sneak peeks behind the scenes that I shot on my flip video camera.  Enjoy!

The great thing about this Diggnation is that Google bought free beer for everyone!  Fans grabbed fistfuls of Becks to bring in to make sure they had enough beers for the full show.

Virgin sponsored the Diggnation.  Here Revision3 VP of Sales Brad Murphy, and Alex Hunter from Virgin position the Virgin sign in just the right way.  Thanks to Virgin for sponsoring!

We had 1,700 people show up for the live Diggnation, it was wild.  Thanks everyone who showed up.  We all had a great time at the show, and at the after party sponsored by Facebook and Digg.

So and then the next morning, we all met for tea and breakfast, and then set out to the Virgin corporate offices in London to tape the next week’s Diggnation there.  Most of us took a Taxi, but Kevin and Alex had the ride of their lives…  on a Virgin LimoBike!  Here are a few videos of Kevin and Alex encountering the bikes for the first time, and then getting suited up and ready to go!

Checking out the Virgin Limobikes and getting suited up and ready to go.  These bikes are so cool, and so much faster than taxis in London.  Sign up for one today!

Off they go!

So after Kevin and Alex showed up, we toured the Virgin offices, and then the set up for a Diggnation in this really cool conference room in the offices, that sort of looks like you’re on stage at a Virgin music festival. 

As I was doing a quick little video walk through, coincidentally they were talking about my new favorite phone, which unfortunately I had to give back, the Nokia E71.  You won’t see this episode until October 24th, but it’s awesome too.

– Jim Louderback

So are we! In an effort to help everyone be as informed as possible, we’ve teamed up with the Commission for Political Debates and MyDebates.org. Starting RIGHT NOW, you can go to Revision3 Election 2008 page to learn about the biggest issues affecting this election and where each candidate stands.

Additionally, you will enjoy a live stream of the remaining presidential debates and clips from previous debates. Plenty of other materials are available, including voter registration info and a breakdown of how your opinions compare to others across your state and the nation.

Everyone at Revision3 is super energized by these elections and we want to make sure you, your family and friends are up to pace, too. Check out all the Election 2008 material right here on Revision3 and make sure to vote on November 4th!

It’s me, Prager, yet again only writing on the Revision3 blog for shameless promotions for Diggnation. But hey, what better place to talk about Diggnation than on the Revision3 blog — plus its something I’m excited about and hope you will be to.

Diggnation has a live taping on Friday, October 10th at 7:30pm (London time) from The Future of Web Apps conference in London! Additional details here: http://london2008.futureofwebapps.com/socialize

Following the show, there will be a Digg Meetup (read: huge party) with drinks provided by friends from Facebook (Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg himself will most likely be in attendance).

I’m sure many of you may not be in and around the London area - but if there is any chance that you might be, or any reason to decide to make plans for it - we would absolutely LOVE to have you join us.

Cheers!

David

We are looking for a broad range of show hosts for programming focusing on a wide range of topics such as music, technology, sports, news and video games.

Bring headshots (if you have one) and resume to audition. Sides for you to read will be provided that day. Hope to see you here:

Revision3 Studio
2415 3rd Street
Suite 237
San Francisco, CA 94107

I wouldn’t normally use up space on the Revision3 blog to talk about a sponsorship - but this one is particularly cool, I’m excited about it, and I feel like sharing a little bit more about why.

Since the beginning of Revision3, we’ve prided ourselves on the success of a relatively old school and grass roots business model for this high tech and rapidly growing medium of Internet television. Although we employ various methods of efficiently delivering advertising, the most genuine, high value, and high return for our sponsors has been the integration of products/services and sponsor messaging within our shows.

Diggnation has been a successful proving ground for delivering integrated sponsor messaging and I’m really excited about our new campaign with the Michelob Brewing Company. Ever since episode number one of Diggnation, we’ve kicked back and had a beer while delivering the content of the show. It is a part of the show. As a result, the most natural fit for an integrated and identified product placement within the show is a drink sponsor. We were very excited to in working with the folks at the Michelob Brewing Company for some time to put together a 6 week campaign to cover the new Michelob Craft Beer Sampler Pack.

The excitement is two-fold:

One, Michelob is a brand that has a rich history as well as a tradition in seeking excellence along with analysis and strong identity with the properties through which they carry out their extensive and successful marketing initiatives. The Diggnation viewers have proven to be the perfect place to spread the word in a fun and engaging way about the new and innovative product offerings in the Michelob Craft Beer Sampler Pack.

Two, The Michelob Craft Beers have been formulated with the same passion for brewing specialty beers that the most detail oriented micro-breweries bestow. Being beer connoisseurs ourselves, we are genuinely excited to be able to sample each of the beers in the sampler pack and allow the viewers of Diggnation to try them along with us.

Last week Diggnation flew to St. Louis MO for a behind the scenes Brewery tour at the Michelob Brewing Co. Brewmaster Florian Kuplent walked us through the beer making process from Barley to Bottle. Check out the video from the tour (note that you will have to enter your birth date to access.)

Over the next 6 weeks we will be drinking craft beers from the Michelob Sampler Pack on Diggnation. If you like beer as much as we do, pick up a Michelob Sampler Pack and drink along with us. Here is the rundown of the beers we’ll be drinking over the next 6 episodes:

Episode 168: Michelob Amber Bock
Episode 169: Michelob Marzen
Episode 170: Michelob Irish Red
Episode 171: Michelob Pale Ale
Episode 173: Michelob Porter
Episode 174: Kevin and Alex Choose their favorite beers from the Michelob Craft Beer Sampler Pack.

You can learn more about the beers and at www.Michelob.com

Cheers,

David Prager