YouTube calls in big-name help to redefine programming
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CULVER CITY, Calif. -- YouTube is enlisting Hollywood's help to reach a generation of viewers more familiar with smartphones than TV remotes.
The online video giant is aiming to create 25 hours of programming per day with the help of some of the top names in traditional TV. The Google-owned site is spreading its wealth among producers, directors and other filmmakers, using a $100 million pot of seed money it committed last fall. The fund represents YouTube's largest spending on original content so far.
YouTube believes it is laying groundwork for the future. While the number of traditional TV watchers has leveled off in recent years, more and more people are watching video on mobile phones, tablets and computers, especially the 18- to 34-year-old age demographic advertisers covet.
The idea is to create 96 additional YouTube channels, which are essentially artists' home pages, where viewers can see existing video clips and click "subscribe" to be notified when new content goes up.
Well-funded videos by a select roster of stars are apt to be more watchable than the average YouTube fare of cute cats and webcam monologues. YouTube is betting that a solid stream of good content will attract more revenue from advertisers, bring viewers back often and bolster its parent company's fledgling Web-connected-TV platform, Google TV.
The cash has enticed some of TV's biggest stars, including "Fast Five" director Justin Lin, who directs episodes of "Community," "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker and former CBS entertainment president Nancy Tellem.
Mr. Zuiker is teaming up on a YouTube horror series after observing his own family's behavior. His three pre-teen sons spend more time on phones, iPads and computers than on TV.
"We want to jointly take the risk with YouTube and roll the dice on the future," Mr. Zuiker says. "The old regime is going to falter because everybody thinks the TV is the only device that really counts, and that's just not the case."
For producers, it's a chance to create shows completely free from major studios' meddling. They also can stay relevant with a younger crowd whose viewing is moving increasingly online.
First Published February 21, 2012 12:00 am
