Google Adds 100 YouTube Channels of Original Pro Content

Google Inc. announced late Friday approximately one hundred “channels” of original programming set to launch on its YouTube website over the coming year. The new content will include channels dedicated to music, television, film, news, and sports, and are part of the company’s effort to appeal to a broader range of consumers seeking professionally-created content. 

YouTube Broadcast Announcement

This new venture is supported, according to Bloomberg, with approximately US$100 million in financing and represents a partnership with dozens of media companies and celebrities. Google’s goal for the channels is to produce about 25 hours of original programming per day once all channels are available.

“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,” the company stated in its announcement.

Google TV

This news comes on the heels of the introduction of Google’s second take at Google TV, a service whose first iteration was plagued by bugs and a poor user experience. One of Google’s stated goals for the project is to “Make YouTube better on TV.” It is clear that tonight’s YouTube announcement is a major step towards achieving that goal.

The channels will be rolled out over the next year, starting in November, and will be available on the company’s website as well as all YouTube-enabled devices, including Apple’s iOS devices. Until then, YouTube has created a “sneak peek,” previewing what’s to come.