Starting a New Channel... Starting a New Show

For the third time in 18 months, we've started a new channel on YouTube. Every time we do that, we aim to win in a big way. With the WDW Pro Channel, I have to say that the support of folks like you really made it so that expectations were exceeded in every way. As a result, I left my very successful career on the belief that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually take a swing at improving the culture all around us. It was scary given that you never know what YouTube could do; but I also felt that it was the natural progression of everything we were seeing.

With That Park Place, I knew Jonas was a talent that was just absolutely outstanding and I knew that the Pro channel couldn't cover all the theme park news that was happening. By allowing Jonas to alleviate some of that pressure, we were able to now have two channels that handled high quality content and delivered on the promise we make to viewers every time they click on a video: we intend to entertain, to educate and to elevate our guests' day by sharing time with us. And, of course, Jonas was a tremendous pickup for what we do because he's absolutely gifted beyond what any person should be (even if we give him a hard time).

So with two channels, why the need for a third?

Well, That Park Place Podcasts Online (which is likely to get a name change to That Pod Place in the future lol), is a new concept that we felt was important. Too much of our stuff was being missed because of the amount of entertainment we were producing. Highlights that we thought were meaningful weren't getting their chance to shine. And talent that we've been introduced to needed to flourish more freely. It's a wonderful problem to have! With Vash having joined us months ago, and we having discovered his moral character, his work ethic and his clear connection with audiences (not to mention his research abilities -- wowza!), we wanted Vash to have an even greater chance to thrive. We wanted the content that Lorn has been generating to likewise get the attention it has deserved for so long. There's also Stuttering Guitarist who may add deeply powerful conversations to the channel.

And, of course, we have all been gifted by the generosity of LW Ghost. When I watched the first episode of The Hollywood Backlot with Lew and YOU this morning, I was blown away. I think T3PO (as they're calling it) is going places. Sometimes I just have to sit and bask in the talent that has landed at my doorstep. I mean... how in the world did it happen that John Trent fell into our laps and took over That Park Place?

I could tell you all that I'm shrewd or that I'm just that great at pulling in a fantastic team. I don't think that's necessarily the case, though. I think it's YOU. I think you support what we do and these wonderfully talented people see an audience that they love and want to be associated with. I think YOU have helped build an awesome community of wholesome, integral values... a vast array of individuals who have come together to make the future brighter through stories that shine in a way we miss today.

So thank you. I hope you enjoy the first episode of The Hollywood Backlot with Lew and YOU... and I hope you realize YOU'RE the star in that title.

Thank you to Vash and LW for knocking it out of the park. What an honor to be a very small part of it.

Your pal,
Pro