You might have seen me mention in the previous editions that the TerraWatch newsletter is evolving. This post breaks down what’s changing, why, and what to expect going forward.
TL;DR: The weekly free edition is going away. In its place, there is a new, paid weekly edition with more analysis and insights. The free edition will continue twice a month, focusing on key highlights. The premium tier is also evolving with more deep dives into EO markets, technologies, and applications.
Everyone will get a preview of the first two paid newsletter editions later in August, before the full switch happens on September 1.
When I started the TerraWatch newsletter two and a half years ago, it was mostly for myself – a way to make sense of what was happening in the world of Earth observation. There wasn’t a clear, focused resource out there, so, I started writing the kind of newsletter I wished existed.
Over the 120 weekly editions that have been sent so far, this newsletter has grown to over 17,000 readers globally from across the EO ecosystem: space agencies, startups, researchers, investors, government bodies and enterprises across insurance, finance, agriculture, energy, utilities, climate, environment and sustainability sectors.
It has been incredible, to say the least. I recently learned that signing up to the TerraWatch newsletter is part of the official onboarding process in some companies. Each week, over 60% of you open and read the newsletter, which is both humbling and a bit surreal.
But as the audience has grown, so have expectations and the needs.
Why This Change?
After reviewing the subscriber list and based on the results of the survey I sent out (which over 500 of you filled out 🙏), I noticed the audience for this newsletter falls into three broad groups:
🔍 EO enthusiasts & occasional followers: Those who want to stay updated with key developments, but don’t need everything, all the time.
📈 EO professionals & industry watchers: Those who read this newsletter every week without fail to track everything and gain market intelligence.
🧠 EO analysts & decision-makers: Those who need more than updates – structured insights, in-depth analysis, market trends, technological evolution and deep-dives on EO applications.
As you can imagine, producing each edition - researching, thinking, writing - takes a lot of time, every week. So, I have decided it is the right time to evolve the format of the newsletter to meet the needs of each group, and of course, to make the newsletter sustainable for the long term.
What’s Changing?
Starting this September, the TerraWatch newsletter will be available in three tiers.
Essentials – Free
Delivered every two weeks, this free newsletter will bring you:
- Key EO highlights from the past fortnight
- Curated news you should know
- Recommended reads worth your time
Think of it as a minimal but meaningful EO digest, for staying in the loop without being overwhelmed
Pro – $49/year (individual use, team plans available)
This edition is your weekly EO market briefing with:
- A curated selection of news (deals, contracts, partnerships, launches)
- Analysis and commentary focusing on the 'so what'
- Exclusive weekly insights on the EO market, technologies and applications
For those who want not just 'what happened', but 'what it means and why it matters'
👉 On August 18 and August 25, every subscriber will get two Pro editions for free, so you can see what’s coming. The new tier structure goes live on September 1.
Premium – $299/year (individual use, team plans available)
Includes everything in Pro, along with exclusive monthly deep dives on:
- EO market dynamics, commercial landscape and funding analysis
- Emerging technologies, policies and regulations
- EO use cases and adoption trends
For those who want deeper analysis and context on EO technologies, markets and applications
What’s Staying the Same?
The founding principle of TerraWatch:
Any foundational knowledge about EO should be free and accessible to all. Whether you’re an individual, a startup, an agency, an investor, or an enterprise, you should be able to understand EO fundamentals, market trends, and how EO is being applied across industries.
So, the free content is not going away and it won't - it is just being reshaped. Fundamental information will always remain open to everyone. Everything published before September 1, including all past free content, will remain free, and I will continue to share key insights on LinkedIn and X. The deeper, original analysis - the kind that takes time to craft - will now be part of the paid tiers.
I am still the first reader of everything that is written on this newsletter. I write it because it helps me think, and I hope it continues to do the same for you.
Thanks for reading, and for being part of this journey.
Until next time,
Aravind