Why Carfection Was Doomed To Fail: The Harsh Reality of TV Quality Content on YouTube

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In today's video, I discuss the downfall of the amazing channel that was @Carfection - and why even being the best in the business does not guarantee longevity. I talk about the simple economics of trying to run a successful channel and why doing things the old way simply does not make sense.

#YouTube #Carcontent #topgear

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[Carfection]

We're extremely grateful for all the kind things you've said here about our channel and indeed for all of the amazing community support we've enjoyed our our decade plus making films on Carfection and XCAR. While you've made some very valid points about how a lot of YouTube finance works, you're missing a lot of information about how our channel was funded, how it made money and what changed. YouTube revenue from views was never our source of income but our content was monetised elsewhere. For the various parent companies that owned us over our lifetime it did at the time make financial sense to keep the channel funded at the time. What you also have to realise is that we made films far cheaper than you think. We always operated on an absolute shoestring and made films for a fraction of what you think they cost, based on what you say here in the video. We were just very good at making every penny count. (for example, if we were paying thousands of pounds for track use, we would have never had track use. It cost us no where near that much). It was always our desire to keep the channel free for viewers to watch, we never put up a paywall, never sold merch, didn't accept money from manufacturers to cover cars, never even had sponsored videos on the channel. Had we done that we maybe could have kept going, but then it wouldn't have been the channel we wanted it to be. In a post pandemic, economic downturn period, faced with changing what we were and what we did, or hitting the breaks and stepping away from it for now, we chose the latter. Was it always doomed to fail? Maybe. All good things come to and end and while I wish it could have gone on longer, 10 years is a long time on the internet. There's always a chance CF might resurface, never say never, but right now, we're stepping back and letting some of our amazing colleagues and friend channels take up the torch, continuously raising the bar that we worked so hard to set as high as we could. Thanks again for all the kind words about the channel, it really means a lot. To know that people appreciated our films as much as they did, makes all of the blood sweat and tears that went into making them worthwhile.

[DougDeMuro]

This is an excellent video and a fantastic look at the economics and the reality of our business. Thank you for posting it and for breaking it all down so thoroughly and clearly.

[varsas]

Well, that's a shame. A lot of my favourite car videos recently were from Carfection, they always looked and sounded great.

[StefABtv]

Great vid mate. So true, why I stopped all the cinematic videos as it’s just not worth it. Now with shorts it makes the whole landscape even more challenging.

[adriancoppola]

James, I always enjoy your videos, but as a fellow businessman, this video is truly fascinating. Never given thought to the economics of your work. Given the beautiful cars in your garage, I take my hat off to you that you are making such a success of this new medium given all the challenges that you have so clearly laid out here. To you, No 27, Harry’s Garage, and others with the same passion and determination, my thanks and respect. Bravo!

[HubNut]

Great insight. I went into video myself because I saw it just wasn't feasible for traditional publishers. So I had to do it myself. Still took years to make it work as a job! About six of them in fact.

[idriveaclassic]

Jay thanks so much for including me 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼. Also thanks for distracting me from my work to watch this vid 😂😂😂

[ashley_neal]

Cracking video 👊 I sat there nodding as I listen to every honest word. We've seen many channels over the years, try and purchase their way to success and rarely it works. When your channel starts to make a little bit, it is forever in debt to yourself for the years where it didn't.

[pinaricyt]

The Late Brake Show is another really nice one. Very sad to see Carfection go. Along with Harry Metcalfe, Henry Catchpole is my favorite automotive journalist. I am glad YT has been working out for you Jay. Keep up the great work!

[itsjoel]

Great video! Some of my highest view & earning videos have been the ones with the least effort! No correlation between quality and earnings on YouTube

[AtentieCadMere]

I've been doing YouTube for almost a decade. and since then, 59 out of the 62 YouTube channels similar to mine, have closed. mine is now the biggest, but... but, at great personal cost, and barely going on. in some months it's even more economically sensible to post nothing at all. and no new channels have started after 2016's adpocalypse. Tom Scott said it in a 2015 blogpost. you should not invest a lot of money in YouTube. make it as simple as possible. it IS disheartening. you do this from passion, but it can bankrupt you. ok, I stop writing, at this point I'm listening to the video and writing the same things you said. I didn't finish writing "bankrupt" and you said it... keep on joggling.

[davesclassicgaragetours]

Brilliantly put. And a reminder to us all and all our viewers, this is a tough tough world we live in. And thanks again for allowing me use of some of your footage. It's through the generosity of content creators like yourself that I can take my viewers out from under a hoist and let them see the full glory of the cars I'm filming.

[jamesthomson]

We’re all really grateful for the honesty you give us, James! And to shout out so many other channels too as they all deserve it. Highpeak autos and yourself 100% need to get together though - my two favourite channels.

[drzulf]

James, to you and your fellow British independent car YouTubers like Harry, Tyrell, 27, the Car Guys and Ratarossa, a big thank you for the content you put up. We appreciate it!

[willkemp]

Jason on hagerty is on another level. The editing is mind blowing.

[Gorbyrev]

I'll miss Carfection. Thanks for everything you do James. Very grateful for all the hard work.

[mitchbuchannon]

I love how Harry is the grandad of uk car YouTubers. He’s earned it

[michaelreed]

Well, here in the US we think you are fantastic.
Excellent content.
A truly unbiased care reviewer.
I have actually made a purchase based on some of your videos.
Keep up the great work.

[julianevans]

So many car journalists - the ones who started in magazines, etc. - are relatively posh. Still, class dominates everything in Britain, so why would that be different? Bovingdon, Frankel, Harris, Catchpole, the list goes on. Only the odd prole slips through. Even Jonny Smith occasionally slips up and says 'ga-raaaj' instead of 'garage'. Youtube seems to be a bit of a leveller, at least.

[JoeyJoJoJuniorShabbadoo]

Very sad about Carfection, but thrilled that Henry has joined Jason at Hagerty. I think McKeel sees the value in the content they create and knows that it’ll be beneficial to both his bottomline and inner car guy.