In recent months, we’ve been hearing growing rumors about YouTube adding more curation and original content, and now sources are saying that the video site plans to add “channels” to make itself more viable for Internet-connected TVs.
The Wall Street Journal cites “people familiar with the matter” as saying that parent company Google is planning on altering YouTube’s homepage to focus on subjects such as arts and sports. It plans to add 20 premium channels that would have five to 10 hours of professional programming per week. Other channels would feature current YouTube content (here’s hoping for the “cats running into mirrors” channel).
The whole deal will cost $100 million, according to the WSJ.
This news isn’t particularly novel when you consider YouTube’s recent moves — as well as rumors about its recent moves. In March, Google acquired web video production company Next New Networks with the aim of helping content partners create better videos. At that time, it announced that it was creating a program called YouTube Next to provide grants and training to partners (YouTube Partner Grants program also launched in July to fund talented users).
There were also rumors buzzing around in February that YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar will be building out the site’s recently instated talent program by offering big-name stars their own YouTube channels. Those stars would then fill the channels with original content, while also keeping complete control of those three-minute videos. YouTube, in turn, would rake in the ad revenue.
And let’s not forget sports — YouTube is also apparently in talks with some major sporting leagues to bring even more live games to the site (it has already featured livestreaming Indian Premier League cricket matches).
Adding more curation to the site via channels only makes sense given the direction in which YouTube is apparently headed — and the revenue the site could generate via ad-supported channels.
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