Google is pouring millions of dollars into new YouTube channels that will feature content intended to compete with TV programming. Since this is a technology story, I don’t really understand a lot of it, so I’m going to let the Wall Street Journal explain:
Google Inc. is working on a major overhaul of YouTube as it tries to position itself for the rise of televisions that let people watch online video in their living rooms, according to people familiar with the matter.
YouTube is looking to compete with broadcast and cable television, some of these people said, a goal that requires it to entice users to stay on the website longer, and to convince advertisers that it will reach desirable consumers.
The site is planning a series of changes to its home page to highlight sets of “channels” around topics such as arts and sports. About 20 or so of those channels will feature several hours of professionally produced original programming a week, some of these people said.
Again, I barely understand anything about technology unless it’s a video of a corgi using an iPad, but this seems to make sense. I would love to be able to turn on my TV and seek out precisely the sports highlights I want to watch, instead of sitting through 35 minutes of Yankees-Red Sox news on “SportsCenter” while I wait for stuff I want to see. Also, a “cute/funny animals” on-demand YouTube channel would render “America’s Funniest Videos” obsolete. And there’s nothing I like better than the idea of Tom Bergeron losing one of his jobs.
