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Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

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Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#21

Post by jcampbell1 »

DevX101 wrote: post #2

This is a REAL potential game changer and I've been patiently waiting to see how long it would take before a major internet video streaming company made this move. The underlying reason for Netflix's current woes is because CONTENT producers are squeezing it to them and will be increasing their prices significantly in the next year. The reason Hulu wasn't acquired even though many companies considered it, was because…

> This is a REAL potential game changer

There is one problem. Google is going to spend $150 million on content, to earn about $10M in ad sales, and then will cancel the program. Cable companies charge an average of $1000/year per household and have 90% penetration. The economics of web video just can't compete.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#23

Post by hugh3 »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #10
DevX101 wrote: post #2

This is a REAL potential game changer and I've been patiently waiting to see how long it would take before a major internet video streaming company made this move. The underlying reason for Netflix's current woes is because CONTENT producers are squeezing it to them and will be increasing their prices significantly in the next year. The reason Hulu wasn't acquired even though many companies considered it, was because…

Indeed! Especially now since there aren't any practical limits on youtube video size, duration, or quality. There is already a lot of pretty high quality original content on youtube. Some of that content is more popular than some cable content. There are youtube channels which have weekly updates and see millions of viewers on every episode. They are under the traditional media radar though since they don't have a pr…

The biggest potential danger I see is to Google's brand image. Google is respected as producing high-quality... stuff. Television networks aren't respected because they produce... an awful lot of garbage. If google starts being directly responsible for the Jersey Shores of the world then surely their brand image takes a hit.

Producing a "show" or a "movie" requires a teeny, tiny amount of effort and resources these days, and can be done without spending more than 4 figures on equipment and whatnot.

Though it must be said that the only way you can produce a movie really cheaply is if you can persuade folks to work for peanuts in the hope of breaking into the industry.

But if low-budget stuff becomes the industry, then the supply of folks willing to work for nothing in the hopes of being the next George Clooney will die up when George Clooney starts taking home five hundred bucks a film.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#24

Post by mattmiller »

ams6110 wrote: post #17

Great, 25 more channels of the like that makes up 90% of cable television. Please, Google, give us ESPN. People will literally throw money at you.

Sports are keeping the traditional cable model alive. I would love to see somebody negotiate streaming deals with the NFL.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#26

Post by InclinedPlane »

hugh3 wrote: post #23
InclinedPlane wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed! Especially now since there aren't any practical limits on youtube video size, duration, or quality. There is already a lot of pretty high quality original content on youtube. Some of that content is more popular than some cable content. There are youtube channels which have weekly updates and see millions of viewers on every episode. They are under the traditional media radar though since they don't have a pr…

The biggest potential danger I see is to Google's brand image. Google is respected as producing high-quality... stuff. Television networks aren't respected because they produce... an awful lot of garbage. If google starts being directly responsible for the Jersey Shores of the world then surely their brand image takes a hit. Producing a "show" or a "movie" requires a teeny, tiny amount of effort and resources these d…

Good point, that is a concern. Maybe google should create a subsidiary brand for just that purpose.

As far as low-budget productions, I think you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. The key is lowering the cost of entry. What this enables is not just "low-budget" productions but also "start-ups" with members who have decided to defer compensation in exchange for equity in the "start-up". This is the dominant way that bands get started, for example.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#27

Post by MikeCapone »

leviathant wrote: post #9
Aloisius wrote: post #7

Google producing creative content? What could possibly go wrong? It will be entertaining to see how they A/B test the color of the clothing the actors wear for maximum effectiveness.

You joke, but I watched "How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?" (a making-of doc about The Social Network) and it blew my mind a little bit seeing the process of test-shooting the wardrobes and makeup. Ah, here's a clip online: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1594268185/ ...skip to 6:45 There's a quick cut in there where there's a table with what looks like a hundred pairs of watches.

Thanks for mentioning that. I didn't know about it. Ended up watching the whole thing tonight. I found it fascinating. Great to see what goes on behind the scenes..

If anyone else has documentaries about film-making that they can recommend, I'd love to hear your picks. Thanks.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#28

Post by jeffool »

I think many of you have severely misread this article.

This isn't about Google creating content, this is about Google partnering with production companies who will provide the content.

Now, don't be surprised if you see Google make more company related content, but it won't be Google-owned and ran soap operas or anything. At most I expect more meta content, say a promotional guide channel like many stations offer.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#29

Post by jeffool »

jasontan wrote: post #18

Yep, this is true. A friend of mine is producing one of their channels (deal has been signed). Exciting!

Very! What I wouldn't give to be in a production company entering into this!

I'm sure there will be some original problems, but by far and large the problems of production are solved ones. I bet it would be like being in a startup with a quarter of the unknowns.

Re: Rumor: Google spending $150M to launch 25+ professional YouTube channels

#30

Post by leviathant »

MikeCapone wrote: post #27
leviathant wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You joke, but I watched "How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?" (a making-of doc about The Social Network) and it blew my mind a little bit seeing the process of test-shooting the wardrobes and makeup. Ah, here's a clip online: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1594268185/ ...skip to 6:45 There's a quick cut in there where there's a table with what looks like a hundred pairs of watches.

Thanks for mentioning that. I didn't know about it. Ended up watching the whole thing tonight. I found it fascinating. Great to see what goes on behind the scenes.. If anyone else has documentaries about film-making that they can recommend, I'd love to hear your picks. Thanks.

The entire second disc of The Social Network is filled to the brim with making-of stuff of similar caliber. I know I'm never going to be a filmmaker, but I really get sucked into that sort of thing.

The super mega edition of Blade Runner (with the three or four different cuts) also has a very, very expansive set of documentaries, which cover not only the making of the film (hiring writers, chasing down financing, creating the effects, etc.) but the arduous task of making the re-release. The range of people involved that they talk to goes from the riggers and everyday film crew to the financiers who seemingly didn't much care what it was about so long as it made money.

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