YouTube Original Content to Come From Top Hollywood, TV Names
YouTube is teaming up with some of Hollywood's finest to add 25 hours of original programming a day to its online content.
The Google-owned online video mammoth announced its plan to develop 96 additional YouTube channels through a partnership with some of Hollywood's biggest names in the film and television industry, including CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, on Friday.
The move to add additional YouTube channels with original content comes as the main advertising demographic in the U.S. – 18 to 34 year olds – are increasingly turning away from watching content on the television and opting to watch videos on their mobile devises, computers, and tablets.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Today, the Web is bringing us entertainment from an even wider range of talented producers, and many of the defining channels of the next generation are being born, and watched, on YouTube" YouTube's global head of content partnerships, Robert Kyncl, wrote in a blog post.
YouTube already committed $100 million to the project last fall and Google hopes to see the online video channel expand its already powerful reach through adding the original programing to its plethora of videos added by both users and professionals. Most of the channels are expected to be launched next year.
The plan would make YouTube a viable alternative to traditional TV channels and the company plans to include shows by popular television and Internet personalities including Tony Hawk and Deepak Chopra. The channel also plans to team with other high profile names as producers including Jay Z, Ashton Kutcher, and Amy Poehler.
Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Electus, and Slate are all expected to have YouTube channels of their own.
"YouTube is trying to become a next-generation cable provider overseeing dozens of free online "channels" with professional-grade shows," the Wall Street Journal wrote this past fall.
