Today's free lecture, the cost of the next one

The options

The order shown is not a ranking of preference.

1. Option 1

   All lectures and support free

   Reduces gaps in access but leaves follow-up production and operating funds uncertain.

2. Option 2

   Low-price bundled fee

   Secures funding for repeated production but reduces participation by learners who cannot pay.

3. Option 3

   Content free, support paid

   Leaves basic access in place but takes on the gaps in feedback and completion.

The situation as it stands

Production costs were covered by donations, but there is no funding yet for the next course. Decision deadline: within 20 days, before the platform contract.

2026 synthetic case · Opening online lectures for free leaves no money to make the next one. The people, organizations, figures, and events are fictional.

1. Premise 1Production costs were covered by donations, but there is no funding yet for the next course.
2. Premise 2Fully free access increases reach but also increases operating and question-answering costs.
3. Premise 3Selling paid support separately lets learners with time and money receive better feedback.

Where it holdsLecture access, pricing, and funding for continued production

What is still unknown

1. Unknown 1The actual cost of content and of support
2. Unknown 2The types of support free users need
3. Unknown 3The price learners can afford and the fee-waiver process

Signals to decide again

• Decide what observation, owner, and check window can confirm "the actual cost of content and of support," and re-judge if the new confirmation changes the tradeoffs of the options.
• Decide what observation, owner, and check window can confirm "the types of support free users need," and re-judge if the new confirmation changes the tradeoffs of the options.
• Decide what observation, owner, and check window can confirm "the price learners can afford and the fee-waiver process," and re-judge if the new confirmation changes the tradeoffs of the options.