Diggnation
Encyclopedia
Diggnation is Revision3's flagship video podcast
produced weekly. It is hosted by Kevin Rose
and Alex Albrecht
, who had previously hosted TechTV
's The Screen Savers
together. Its main purpose is to discuss some of the top stories from Digg
, the social news and bookmarking website developed by Rose and others. The first episode "aired" online on July 1, 2005. The format of the show usually involves Rose and Albrecht reviewing one or more brands of beer and/or tea at the opening of the show, which they will consume throughout the show, followed by them discussing various Digg stories from the previous week. Both audio and video versions of the podcast are available from Revision3.
The intro sequence was made by Eden Soto in collaboration with David Prager
. It was in development for more than three months, according to Eden Soto's website.
A spin-off show, The Digg Reel
ran from January 2008 to September 2010, and was originally hosted by Jessica Corbin
, followed by Andrew Bancroft
. The show featured the week's top user submitted videos in comparison to Diggnation's primary focus on news articles. Both are produced by Revision3.
On October 3, 2011 David Prager announced the show would end with its 340th episode at the end of 2011. Occasional Reunion Live Shows might happen in the future.
The show begins immediately with a short listing of the podcast's current sponsors, and is usually followed by a humorous fake advertisement (i.e. Bose's Noise Enhancing Headphones, "Days of our Prager", Cougars: Aged to Perfection, etc.). After the title video, the hosts introduce themselves, tell the viewers where they are filming from, make any relevant announcements, and discuss the drinks (usually beer, more recently tea) they will have during the episode. The beer-tasting and beverage aspect of Diggnation is one of the show's unique aspects. The majority of the episode is dedicated to the discussion of news items as well as personal commentary, anecdotes and unrelated banter. The show's humor is generally somewhat vulgar, often due to considerable intoxication (which has been criticized by Leo Laporte
as promoting binge drinking). At the end of the show, Rose and Albrecht mention their sponsors once again in a longer advertisement spot, read e-mail from fans, then conclude the show with a seemingly ad libbed phrase or saying. Starting with more recent episodes, larger Digg stories (typically the weeks big news) are discussed after the ads, but before the emails. This is keeping in line with most other Revision3 shows.
Diggnation episodes are released weekly on Wednesdays at 6 PM (EST). Previously, the show was released on Friday at the same time for paid members, and Sunday at 12:01 for everyone. There are an estimated 250,000 regular subscribers to the show. BitGravity handles iTunes and TiVo subscribers, downloads from the website, and RSS feeds. Virgin America
airlines also offers on-demand episodes available on the in flight entertainment systems (along with other Revision3 shows). Repeats, edited for content, time and profanity, are also seen on the cable network Youtoo TV as part of Revision3's contract with that network.
Diggnation occasionally does live shows. These shows have been hosted at CES
, SXSW
, Reno
, Macworld
, San Francisco, E3, San Diego, Hollywood, London
, St. Louis, Amsterdam
, San Francisco, Tokyo
, Los Angeles
, and New York City
. The most recent live show was held on July 21st, 2011 at the House of Blues during the 2011 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, CA.
suggested to name the Digg website "Diggnation". Rose decided on the simpler Digg instead. Rose subsequently chose Diggnation as the name of the podcast.
In addition, though not officially invited to join in on stories, other guests have included To Catch A Predator's
Chris Hansen
, Adam Carolla
, Ashton Kutcher
, WWE Diva
and Go Daddy
Girl Candice Michelle
, Rachel Maddow
, Leo Laporte, director Robert Rodriguez
and Tony Hawk
.
Video podcast
Video podcast is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures...
produced weekly. It is hosted by Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
and Alex Albrecht
Alex Albrecht
Alexander Jennings Albrecht is an American television personality, actor and podcaster who resides in Brentwood a suburb of Los Angeles, California...
, who had previously hosted TechTV
TechTV
TechTV was a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming...
's The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers was a live American TV show on TechTV. The show launched concurrently with the channel ZDTV on May 11, 1998. The Screen Savers originally centered around computers, new technologies, and their adaptations in the world...
together. Its main purpose is to discuss some of the top stories from Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
, the social news and bookmarking website developed by Rose and others. The first episode "aired" online on July 1, 2005. The format of the show usually involves Rose and Albrecht reviewing one or more brands of beer and/or tea at the opening of the show, which they will consume throughout the show, followed by them discussing various Digg stories from the previous week. Both audio and video versions of the podcast are available from Revision3.
The intro sequence was made by Eden Soto in collaboration with David Prager
David Prager
David Lawrence Prager is one of the co-founders and Vice President of Special Projects for Revision3. He has also worked for ZDTV, TechTV, and G4.-Early life:...
. It was in development for more than three months, according to Eden Soto's website.
A spin-off show, The Digg Reel
The Digg Reel
The Digg Reel was a daily video podcast hosted by Andrew Bancroft that covered the most recent popular videos from Digg. It was a spin-off show of Revision3's flagship podcast, Diggnation hosted by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht. The Digg Reel was launched in January 2008 and was originally hosted...
ran from January 2008 to September 2010, and was originally hosted by Jessica Corbin
Jessica Corbin
Jessica Lynn Corbin is an American television personality and actress. She is best known as a former TechTV personality, where she worked as a segment producer on The Screen Savers, and as a co-anchor on the nightly news program TechLive.-Early life:In high school, Corbin was named an...
, followed by Andrew Bancroft
Andrew Bancroft
-Films:Bancroft wrote and starred in Evolution: The Musical! which was screened at the 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival. He also wrote, directed and starred in the music video "Maximum Wage".-Features in the media:...
. The show featured the week's top user submitted videos in comparison to Diggnation's primary focus on news articles. Both are produced by Revision3.
On October 3, 2011 David Prager announced the show would end with its 340th episode at the end of 2011. Occasional Reunion Live Shows might happen in the future.
Episodes
Leo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
as promoting binge drinking). At the end of the show, Rose and Albrecht mention their sponsors once again in a longer advertisement spot, read e-mail from fans, then conclude the show with a seemingly ad libbed phrase or saying. Starting with more recent episodes, larger Digg stories (typically the weeks big news) are discussed after the ads, but before the emails. This is keeping in line with most other Revision3 shows.
Distribution
Virgin America
Virgin America, Inc. is a United States-based low-cost airline that began service on August 8, 2007. The airline's stated aim is to provide low-fare, high-quality service for "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards." San Francisco...
airlines also offers on-demand episodes available on the in flight entertainment systems (along with other Revision3 shows). Repeats, edited for content, time and profanity, are also seen on the cable network Youtoo TV as part of Revision3's contract with that network.
Diggnation occasionally does live shows. These shows have been hosted at CES
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
, SXSW
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, Macworld
Macworld Conference & Expo
Produced by Boston-based IDG World Expo, Macworld | iWorld is a trade-show with conference tracks dedicated to the Apple Macintosh platform. It is held annually in the United States, usually during the second week of January...
, San Francisco, E3, San Diego, Hollywood, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, St. Louis, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, San Francisco, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The most recent live show was held on July 21st, 2011 at the House of Blues during the 2011 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, CA.
Name origin
David PragerDavid Prager
David Lawrence Prager is one of the co-founders and Vice President of Special Projects for Revision3. He has also worked for ZDTV, TechTV, and G4.-Early life:...
suggested to name the Digg website "Diggnation". Rose decided on the simpler Digg instead. Rose subsequently chose Diggnation as the name of the podcast.
Guests
Although hosting duties are typically split solely between Kevin and Alex, there have been a few "third-chair" guests invited onto the program:- Episodes 185 + 251: Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
from Late Night With Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman.... - Episode 220: Adam SavageAdam SavageAdam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters. His model work has appeared in major films, including Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and The Matrix...
from MythBustersMythBustersMythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest... - Episode 231: John HodgmanJohn HodgmanJohn Kellogg Hodgman is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long's personification of a Mac in...
In addition, though not officially invited to join in on stories, other guests have included To Catch A Predator's
To Catch a Predator
To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television newsmagazine program Dateline NBC. It is devoted to impersonating underage youth and detaining adults who contact them over the Internet for sexual liaisons...
Chris Hansen
Chris Hansen
Christopher Edward "Chris" Hansen is an American television infotainment personality. He is known for his work on Dateline NBC, in particular the former segment known as To Catch a Predator, which revolved around catching potential Internet sex predators using a sting operation.-Career:Hansen...
, Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
, Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
, WWE Diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
and Go Daddy
Go Daddy
Go Daddy is an Internet domain registrar and Web hosting company that also sells e-business related software and services. In 2010, it reached more than 45 million domain names under management. Go Daddy is currently the largest ICANN-accredited registrar in the world, and is four times the size of...
Girl Candice Michelle
Candice Michelle
Candice Michelle Beckman-Ehrlich better known as Candice Michelle or just Candice, is an American model, actress, and professional wrestler best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment....
, Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
, Leo Laporte, director Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
and Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
.
Awards
- 2006: Podcast AwardPodcast AwardsThe People's Choice Podcast Awards, better known as the Podcast Awards, are an annual set of awards given to the best podcasts as voted by the people...
for best technology podcast. - 2007: Best in 2007 Podcast from iTunes.
- 2008: People's Voice Winner for the Technology in Online Film and Video at the Webby AwardsWebby AwardsA Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
. - 2009: Streamy Award for Best Hosted Web Series (nomination)
- 2010: Streamy Award for Best Hosted Web Series (won)