I chatted yesterday with Wil Harris who revealed that he plans to launch a new video podcast network in September called Channel Flip. The network will focus on the 18-35 male demographic with shows covering technology, video games, indie music, DVD releases, skateboarding and men’s fashion.
At launch the network will offer five shows, updated weekly and produced in a magazine format. Harris says the investment amount in the venture so far falls below six-figures, but they’ve already secured major advertising, closed the deal on a professional production studio and plan to raise another round of funding after the Christmas season. Harris is well known in UK circles for his tech reporting in the Guardian and The Inquirer, but in the U.S. he’s best known as one of the co-hosts of Leo Laporte’s weekly podcast This Week In Tech (TWiT).
As for the technology, Channel Flip shows will be offered via a combination of online (one platform named was Blip.tv) and downloadable formats. Asked what he felt the chief mistake most podcast ventures make, Harris mentioned the lack of consistency of many podcasters, so we should expect a regularly updated schedule from the network. The hosts are all British, but Harris says this venture isn’t meant to be UK-specific in any way. After the initial launch, Channel Flip’s plans include launching shows covering fitness, food, and digital photography.
