In an attempt for Google to achieve its goal of being the next big television provider, YouTube has announced that it's launch a variety of new channels, all featuring original content.
The channels will be produced by celebrities and well-known content producers, as well as media companies such as Reutuers, Slate and The Wall Streeet Journal. As the channels are positioning YouTube to be a challenger to TV, interestingly the only film and TV company to partner with YouTube so far has been Lionsgate.
You can currently sign-up to be the “first” to receive news when the channels launch, or you can just sign-up one-by-one, depending on what your interests are. The channels confirmed by YouTube so far are listed on a splash page, including:
- “Modern Mom” with Brooke Burke (eesh!)
- “Fawn” with beauty blogger/vlogger Michelle Phan
- “Smart Girls at the Party” with Amy Poehler (woo!)
- “Little Black Dress” on fashion magazine expertise
- Clevver News - an “upbeat” positive look at entertainment and celebrity news from Clevver Media
The content YouTube is looking to provide seems like it will be quality, with a little something for everyone. However, as Reuteurs says that up until now, Google has “failed to find a viable monetization strategy with user-generated content” on YouTube, it will be interesting to see how Google plans to make back the money it’s reportedly been shelling out to channel partners to start producing content, which is rumoured to be up to $100 million.
After the initial advance is payed back through advertising, the revenues will apparently be shared 50/50 with the partner.
I’ll be interested to see how the channels will do, how frequently the channel producers will be airing shows, and if they plan on extending the option to be a part of the “original content channels” to traffic-heavy YouTube users.