OK, so I've been wanting to do this forever. Like, really wanting to do it.
Maybe the time's here.
It's a talk show, but much more in line with what'd be a talk show in 2024. It'd be live, it'd take calls, but the similarities end there. Because it'd be video-based -- even the calls -- and it'd be deeply interactive in other ways, as well. If there's a template for this somewhere, we haven't found it, so we're really just winging this on our own, but that's basically it.
The show'd be available live on YouTube, plus possibly other platforms, after which it'd be published right away as a video that can be replayed, plus a podcast. So even if it's missed while it's happening, it'll be ready for a next wave within minutes on every platform everywhere. But, and I'll stress this, the objective's to reach as large a live audience as possible.
Now, before I pop a couple questions your way, a disclaimer: This will have zero impact on the Daily Shot podcasts or the Ramon Foster Show. This'd be 100 percent separate in every way, including time of day.
So, what do you think?
Would you call a video call-in show? Meaning if it were your smiling mug showing on the screen?
Would you tune in?
Would you want it to be just Steelers or any Pittsburgh sports conversation?
As ever, I'll be in comments if any questions.
INSIDE THE WORKS
• We've been a bit slow in setting up Anthony Murphy on the enhanced minor-league baseball coverage. That's wholly my fault. He'll be set for next week.
• We're changing up the way our Feed fronts appear, the better to make the latest news as clear -- and un-cluttered -- as possible. Dali and Marko have been working on this together. The functionality won't change. Just how it looks.
• A new Rob Ullman book? One that collects the entirety of his Cartoon Canon run here? And publishes the toons in chronological order, like a huge history lesson? In time to be a Christmas gift? Hmmmmmm ... more progress was made this week.
• If you've got a really old Android device, which generally means five-plus years old, that's about to be a problem as it relates to our app. Google occasionally will mandate to developers that they update all software to a certain standard and, when that happens, older versions become obsolete. Nothing we can do about it on our end.
• Everyone loving being ad-free? If you're not there yet, it's only for paying subscribers. If you aren't subscribed yet or if your subscription's expired: This is our subscribe page. From there, make sure you're logged in, tap on the link, and thumb down to the bottom for the SUBSCRIBE button to buy/renew at the monthly or annual level. We also offer mega-discounts, as ever, for student subscriptions and senior subscriptions.
• Grateful that so many of you continue to leave us good reviews on outside platforms. For anyone who hasn't yet, feel free to add your own on our Google business listing, our Apple or Spotify podcast channels, our YouTube channels for the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates and, last but not least, our own app, whether it's the Apple or Android version. And again, thank you!
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page-view numbers for the past week were 791,078, with 34,019 unique users over the most recent full seven-day span, Aug. 16-22. Our most-read original piece was ... a virtual dead heat between my Steelers-based Grind from the Buffalo game at Acrisure Stadium, at 19,612, and my Penguins-based Grind on the big prospect trade, at 19,490.
• On the multimedia front, our podcast downloads for the past week were 84,807, and our YouTube video views were 127,304.
• Our company social media accounts are at 56,236 followers on X, 41,112 on Facebook, 32,124 on YouTube, 15,242 on Instagram, 889 on TikTok ... and already 5,016 on the new Threads!
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