View source for This Week in Tech

{{Short description|Technology podcast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|Web|date=October 2021}}
{{Fan POV|date=October 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox Podcast
| title          = This Week in Tech
| image          = This Week in Tech cover art.jpg
| host           = [[Leo Laporte]], Various Panelists
| language       = English
| language_other = 
| updates        = Weekly
| length         = 150-180 minutes
| camera         = 
| direction      = 
| production     = [[TWiT.tv]]
| picture format = 16:9
| audio format   = [[MP3]]
| video format   = [[MP4]] [[High-definition video|HD]]
| began          = {{start date and age|April 17, 2005}}
| ended          = <!-- or 'final'; date of last airing (if applicable) -->
| genre          = Roundtable, Technology [[News]]
| ratings        = 
| cited_for      = <!-- Any awards, -->
| cited_as       = <!-- honors, recognitions, etc. -->
| network        = [[TWiT.tv]]
| license        = CC-BY-NC-SA<ref name="TWiT.tv archived 2015-04-09 2am">{{cite web|url=http://twit.tv/ |title=TWiT.tv |access-date=April 8, 2015 |quote=These netcasts are released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike license. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409013843/http://twit.tv/ |archive-date=April 9, 2015 }}</ref><small> (before 2015-04-09)</small><br/>CC-BY-NC-ND<ref name="TWiTCCLicense">{{cite web |url=https://twit.tv/about/license |title=TWiT.tv |access-date=August 5, 2019 |quote=All TWiT streams and on-demand shows are released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivatives 4.0 International license. |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106201728/https://twit.tv/about/license |url-status=live }}</ref>
| url            = [https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech twit.tv/twit]
| num_episodes   = 1,027 <!-- actual number of episodes, if known -->
|fetchwikidata= ALL
}}
'''''This Week in Tech'''''–casually referred to as '''''TWiT''''', and briefly known as '''''Revenge of the Screen Savers'''''–is the weekly flagship [[podcast]] and namesake of the TWiT.tv network. It is hosted by [[Leo Laporte]] and many other former [[TechTV]] employees, and is currently produced by Benito.<ref>https://twit.tv/posts/transcripts/week-tech-episode-999-transcript</ref> It features [[Round table (discussion)|round-table discussions]] and debates surrounding current [[technology]] news and reviews, with a particular focus on [[consumer electronics]] and the [[Internet]]. TWiT is produced in the TWiT "eastside" studios in [[Petaluma, California]], [[United States]], since 2016, a few miles away from the former "brickhouse" studios where it had been produced for 5 years, and earlier TWiT "cottage", where it was produced for over 6 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twit.tv/shows/twit-news/episodes/297 |title=TWiT Specials 297 Moving Day! |publisher=TWiT.tv |date=August 21, 2016 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824213400/https://twit.tv/shows/twit-news/episodes/297 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twit.tv/shows/twit-news/episodes/87 |title=TWiT Specials 87 Debut of the Brick TWiT House |publisher=TWiT.tv |date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824213412/https://twit.tv/shows/twit-news/episodes/87 |url-status=live }}</ref> The podcast is streamed live on [[Sunday]]s at 2:15 P.M. PST.

==Format==
[[Leo Laporte]] typically begins an episode of ''TWiT'' by stating the show's number, title, sponsors and playing the theme tune, then introducing the week's panelists and guests. The persons hail in either live or remotely and take turns discussing their recent projects or work. The main portion of the show consists of a round-table discussion and [[debate]], pegged loosely to a selection of the week's major technology headlines. The format of the show encourages spontaneity and the conversation often diverges wildly from technology topics. This causes the length of each [[episode]] to vary, sometimes considerably, from show to show, although most episodes run approximately two hours. Each episode typically features three or four commercial breaks, usually in the form of a "live read" from Laporte that may include interaction with the panelists (e.g., Laporte usually prompts guests for recommended [[audiobook]]s during spots for frequent advertiser [[Audible (service)|Audible.com]]). The show closes with each panelist giving a personal "plug" for their affiliated website or [[Twitter]] account.

==Panelists==
The most frequently recurring guests on TWiT included [[John C. Dvorak]], Patrick Norton, [[Wil Harris]], [[Kevin Rose]], Robert Heron, [[David Prager]], [[Tom Merritt]], Roger Chang, and [[Jason Calacanis]]. Futurist [[Amy Webb]] and journalists [https://www.theregister.com/Author/Email/Iain-Thomson Iain Thomson], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm/ Alex Wilhelm], and Dwight Silverman are among the frequent panelists in more recent years. Other guests include [[Becky Worley]], [[Steve Gibson (computer programmer)|Steve Gibson]], [[Xeni Jardin]], [[Alex Lindsay (podcaster)|Alex Lindsay]], Owen Stone, [[Veronica Belmont]] and [[Molly Wood]].

The show has had a number of famous guests, including [[Steve Wozniak]], [[Kevin Mitnick]], [[John Hodgman]], [[Lawrence Lessig]], artist [[Roger McGuinn]], as well as ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' cast members [[LeVar Burton]] ([[Geordi La Forge]]) and [[Wil Wheaton]] ([[Wesley Crusher]]).

In September 2015, Leo Laporte famously "banned" his long-time friend and frequent TWiT guest [[John C. Dvorak]] from the show for various comments Dvorak made on Twitter.<ref name=JCD>{{cite web|url=http://nag.billhutchison.org/banned-why-i-was-fired-from-twit/|title=Unceremoniously fired by Leo for tweeting. The real explanation.|publisher=John C. Dvorak|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090850/http://nag.billhutchison.org/banned-why-i-was-fired-from-twit/|url-status=live}}</ref> In reply to Dvorak's comments that Laporte was biased, Laporte told Dvorak "you won't ever have to worry about it again<ref name=laporte>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=647423221227130880&ref_src=twsrc^tfw&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Ftotaldrama.net%2F2015%2F09%2Fleo-laporte-bans-john-c-dvorak-from-twit-for-expressing-his-opinions-elsewhere%2F&tw_p=tweetembed|title=Laporte: Reply to a Tweet|publisher=Twitter|author=Leo Laporte|access-date=15 Dec 2015|archive-date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503201407/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=647423221227130880&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Ftotaldrama.net%2F2015%2F09%2Fleo-laporte-bans-john-c-dvorak-from-twit-for-expressing-his-opinions-elsewhere%2F&tw_p=tweetembed|url-status=live}}</ref>", insinuating that he never wanted Dvorak back on TWiT. Laporte apologized a few days later,<ref name=td>{{cite web|url=https://totaldrama.net/2015/09/leo-laporte-bans-john-c-dvorak-from-twit-for-expressing-his-opinions-elsewhere/|title=Leo Laporte Bans John C. Dvorak from TWiT for Expressing His Opinions Elsewhere|publisher=Leica Lens|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095748/https://totaldrama.net/2015/09/leo-laporte-bans-john-c-dvorak-from-twit-for-expressing-his-opinions-elsewhere/|url-status=live}}</ref> but continued to berate Dvorak publicly. Dvorak returned to TWiT on December 23, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/698|title=A Christmas Miracle|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=April 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409085808/https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/698|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
The program began when Laporte recorded a one-off round-table discussion between himself, Patrick Norton, Sarah Norton, Kevin Rose, David Prager, and Roger Chang at the 2005 Macworld Expo in San Francisco.<ref name="leoville.tv/twit">{{cite web |title=TWIT: Bookmarkable AAC Torrents (for iPods) |url=http://leoville.tv/twit-aac/ |website=leoville.tv |access-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502160739/http://leoville.tv/twit-aac/ |archive-date=2 May 2005}}</ref>

After publishing the show on his blog to an enthusiastic public reception, Laporte decided to rename this discussion "episode 0"<ref name="leoville.tv/twit"/><ref name="TWiT-Pilot">{{cite web |title=TWiT - The Pilot |url=https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/0 |website=TWiT.tv |access-date=19 July 2022 |date=January 17, 2005}}</ref> and turned the round-table concept into a weekly downloadable audio file, or "[[podcast]]," featuring more cast members from his former [[TechTV]] program ''[[The Screen Savers]]''. The first episode was posted on Monday, April 18, 2005, as ''Revenge of the Screen Savers'', but it was temporarily renamed "Return of the [BEEP]"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/2 |title=This Week in Tech 2 |publisher=TWiT |date=April 24, 2005 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824213350/https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/2 |url-status=live }}</ref> and shortly thereafter changed in response to a [[cease and desist]] letter sent to Laporte from [[Comcast]], owners of TechTV's intellectual property rights, arguing it too closely resembled the defunct show's name. (TWiT started using the Screen Savers trademark after Comcast allowed it to expire, and ''The New Screen Savers'' was launched as a separate weekly program on May 2, 2015.) In episode 2, Laporte announced a contest in which listeners could suggest a new name for the show. One listener suggested ''This Week in Geek'', which inspired Laporte to create the eventual name, ''This Week in Tech'', or ''TWiT''.

The weekly show was originally recorded with all of the hosts staying at their respective homes and talking via [[Voice over IP]] (mostly using [[Skype]]). Starting around episode 10, Norton began physically coming to Leo's Petaluma office during the taping. Upon Rose's announcement that he was moving to [[San Francisco]], Laporte started to gather the panelists for public live tapings in the San Francisco area, with most episodes being videotaped and released as a video podcast download.

During the fall of 2005, several of the previously regular hosts began to move on to other projects, resulting in the format of the show changing, from being a show with a core group of hosts and occasional guests, into Laporte being the only regular host, and inviting in a variety of different guests each show. Around the same time, the people responsible for filming the shows, the Pixel Corps and their leader, [[Alex Lindsay (podcaster)|Alex Lindsay]] became more involved with the show, with many also contributing.

During the first few years ''TWiT'' episodes were made available in a variety of file formats for individual download or RSS subscription. These included a standard 64&nbsp;kbit/s [[MP3]], a low-bandwidth 16&nbsp;kbit/s MP3, [[Advanced Audio Coding]] (AAC), and open source Ogg Vorbis. However, the Ogg Vorbis version of the show ceased to be offered in August 2009 with the AAC and low bandwidth MP3 versions ending in early November 2009. In response, Leo Laporte stated that he was a believer that his content should be made available to the widest audience possible in the format of their choice, as well as philosophically agreeing with the open source nature of Ogg Vorbis. However the time and effort the TWiT Staff needed to encode, upload, and distribute alternate audio formats in the limited time between recording and release each Sunday evening was not justified by the number of people choosing to listen to them.

The final episode of ''This Week in Tech'' recorded at TWiT's Eastside Studio was livestreamed on August 5, 2024.  This was also the first ever spatial livestream which could be watched by [[Apple Vision Pro]] users.<ref name="SpatialLivestream">{{cite web |title=First Spatial Livestream Ever |url=https://www.streamvoodoo.com/cases/case-spatialfirst |website=Stream Voodoo |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref>

The show recording is usually posted every Sunday evening.

==Awards==
''TWiT'' has won two [[Podcast Awards]], as both the "People's Choice" and as "Best Technology Podcast". This Week in Tech also made [[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine's]] Top 10 Podcasts of 2006, ranked 9th.<ref name="podcastaward">{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/topten/2006/podcasts/09.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109041746/http://www.time.com/time/topten/2006/podcasts/09.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 9, 2007 | magazine=Time | title=Top 10 Everything 2006}}</ref><ref name="9th rank in Podcasts from Time Magazine">{{Cite news
|url= https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2011254_2014892_2014890,00.html
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101130163724/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2011254_2014892_2014890,00.html
|url-status= live
|archive-date= November 30, 2010
|title= ranked 9th in Podcasts from Time Magazine
|author= Maria Bunai
|publisher= Time MAgazine
|date= December 20, 2006
|access-date= June 27, 2011}}
</ref>
It also won Podcast of the Year from the 2007 Weblog Awards.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071103204442/http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/best-podcast-1.php Best Podcast - The 2007 Weblog Awards]}}</ref>

==Video==
TWiT began as an audio podcast, although several video episodes were filmed in the first few years of the show. Starting in 2008, the show was made available for live streaming in both audio and video formats. Since episode 215 in October 2009, the show has been available weekly as both an audio and video download as well as on [[YouTube]].

==Distribution and licensing==
All episodes are licensed under the [[Creative Commons]] attribution [[share-alike]] noncommercial [[Creative Commons License|license]], and are distributed via direct download from the TWiT.tv website, from Apple's [[iTunes Store]], or as a subscription on any device with the necessary internet connection and podcasting software. There is no charge to download current or past shows.

The show is typically available in three formats: 64&nbsp;kbit/s MP3, 32&nbsp;kbit/s MP3, and 64&nbsp;kbit/s [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]]. Occasionally, other bitrates are used for episodes produced in [[stereo]], however most episodes are [[monaural]]. The files are available as direct downloads, with bandwidth provided by [[Cachefly]]. On February 23, 2014, before recording TWiT 446, Laporte stated that episode bandwidth for the entire network is around 950 terabytes per month.

A sponsorship deal with America Online was announced on July 4, 2005, following the server demand that resulted from the release of [[iTunes#Recent version history|iTunes 4.9]]'s built-in podcasting directory. Since the new TWiT website was launched, the TWiT Torrent server initially preferred by Laporte has ceased operation. In several episodes, Laporte has noted that the distributed nature of BitTorrent makes it impossible to accurately gauge the popularity of the show, decreasing the likelihood of attracting advertisers. As of episode 174, TWiT began being hosted from AOL Radio.<ref name="TWiT 174">{{cite web |url=https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/174 |title=This Week in Tech 446 |date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824213359/https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/174 |url-status=live }}</ref> AOL hosting ended in the summer of 2013.

==Funding==
Laporte stated in episode 3 that the show would always remain free and without advertising. However, due to ongoing costs as a result of TWiT.tv's constant expansion, a roadmap for the introduction of podcast and web-based advertising was announced during episode 45 of This WEEK in TECH. On September 5, 2006, TWiT.tv officially became one of the first major advertising-supported podcast networks, sponsored initially by both [[Visa Inc.|Visa]] and [[Dell]].

Listeners have always been invited to support the network by means of an automatic [[PayPal]] subscription or one-time payment. In the past, this granted access to an exclusive TWiT forum which no longer exists, yet donations are still accepted. Listener funding has been used for the operational costs of the network including improvements to Laporte's recording studio and to purchase radio-quality microphones and digital audio-recording devices for the hosts. Financial compensation for the network mostly comes from the network's sponsors. Sponsors of the network include [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], Audible, Lantronix, [[Squarespace]], [[Hulu]], [[Rackspace Technology|Rackspace]], Hover, [[Carbonite, Inc.|Carbonite]], [[Stamps.com]] and more.

[[Podtrac]] said TWIT's advertising revenue doubled in 2009 and expected $4 million for 2010.<ref name="nytimes/2010/12/27/podcast">{{cite news |last1=Kalish |first1=Jon |title=Talking Tech and Building an Empire From Podcasts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/technology/27podcast.html |access-date=19 July 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=27 December 2010 |quote=Mark McCrery, chief executive of Podtrac, which is based in Washington, and measures podcast audiences and sells advertising, said TWIT’s advertising revenue doubled in each of the last two years and was expected to total $4 million to $5 million for 2010.}}</ref>

{{third-party|date=October 2019}}

Before recording started for This Week in Tech 268 on October 3, 2010, while discussing the sale of [[TechCrunch]] to [[AOL]], Laporte mentioned that his network would "do three to four [million {{US$}}]" in advertising revenue for 2010.<ref>[[Justin.tv]] video broadcast, [https://twit.tv/live TWiT Live] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829211152/https://twit.tv/live |date=August 29, 2021 }}, 15:01 PDT Sunday October 3, 2010</ref> Based on the increase in the number of sponsored programs as well as the increase in sponsors, the 2013 gross revenue is estimated{{by whom|date=April 2015}} to be in the eight million dollar range. This Week in Tech Episode 561 on August 5, 2016, had extensive talk about podcast revenue. In the episode, Leo Laporte said a recent [[The New York Times|New York Times]] article stated that podcasts ad [[revenue]] was $57 million per year and "If that's true, than I actually own 25% of all of the podcasting revenue in the world." This would put TWIT ad revenue around $13–14 million per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/561|title=There's Always a Steve|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510100032/https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/561|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[TWiT.tv (network)|TWiT.tv Network]]
*[[List of technology podcasts]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech|''This Week in Tech''}} – official site

{{TWiT podcasts}}
{{Podcasting}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:This Week In Tech}}
[[Category:Technology podcasts]]
[[Category:2005 podcast debuts]]
[[Category:Creative Commons-licensed works]]