YouTube wants to start professional, original content channels

Andre Yoskowitz
7 Apr 2011 23:02

Google is planning to add up to 20 premium channels to YouTube, with each producing between 5 and 10 hours of original content every week.
The company is willing to spend $100 million on the creation of the content.

Says the WSJ:

The company is planning changes to the homepage that would highlight sets of channels around topics such as arts and sports. YouTube is looking to introduce 20 or so "premium channels" that would feature five to 10 hours of professionally-produced original programming a week, one of these people said. Additional channels would be assembled from content already on the site.

Google seems to be going the way of Hulu and Netflix, which are opting for new, original content, as a supplement to their broadcast and studio content.

The updated YouTube should be available by the end of the year.