YouTube wants to compete with Netflix, seeks movie and TV show deals

YouTube wants to bolster its new premium service with professional content.

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[Stone]

Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

 

[Onyx Spartan II]

Is this why full 30 second Hulu-style ad rolls have been interrupting me in the middle of my videos the last couple of days? Trying to drive people to sign up for Red so they have a more attractive platform for this professional content?

 

[baobrain]

I don't mind this, if they can pull it off it only means better content for us. Even if they don't pull it off it'll be avaluable failure that other companies such as Netflix can learn from.

 

[vlam]

So now the biggest advertising giant in the world will have my TV and movie viewing habits as well? No. No thank you, do not want. I'll stick to Netflix and HBO go.

At least with a diversified network of people tracking me, the advertisers will have to pay more to know me.

 

[solomonrex]

It IS late and worse, they've shown no aptitude to manage their best content, either in branding (Youtube Red?) or UI. I tried to follow certain 'channels' on youtube via roku and I simply gave up. They don't want me using their service, though supposedly they're in the business to keep me watching ads.

Netflix was the first and often still the best online service that is best served in an app. Until the makers of Android can get Youtube's apps or website up to par, they shouldn't waste money on anymore content, imo.

And that assumes that anyone in Hollywood wants to work with their pirate brand.

They should probably use Play as the launching point here, and let Youtube do what it does best: free kitten content via email.

 

[BlueEyedNoob]

I'm conflicted: On one hand it's good to have more options and google is capable of making great products. On the other hand one more player fragments the marked more and you need xx subscriptions to get all the shows you want.

And then there is alway the looming threat of the all-seeing googly eye

 

[nehinks]

baobrain[/url]":1cioaqwu]I don't mind this, if they can pull it off it only means better content for us. Even if they don't pull it off it'll be avaluable failure that other companies such as Netflix can learn from.

I would agree, except for the Balkanization of streaming services we've seen. New exclusive shows are one thing - it's a product that wouldn't exist otherwise, and that is a net positive. However, there is a growing tendency for the competing streaming services to fight over preexisting shows which is a net negative for consumers. I don't want to have to pay for 4 different services just to have basic access to most things.

 

[jacobdrj]

solomonrex[/url]":7k6rr119]It IS late and worse, they've shown no aptitude to manage their best content, either in branding (Youtube Red?) or UI. I tried to follow certain 'channels' on youtube via roku and I simply gave up. They don't want me using their service, though supposedly they're in the business to keep me watching ads.

Netflix was the first and often still the best online service that is best served in an app. Until the makers of Android can get Youtube's apps or website up to par, they shouldn't waste money on anymore content, imo.

And that assumes that anyone in Hollywood wants to work with their pirate brand.

They should probably use Play as the launching point here, and let Youtube do what it does best: free kitten content via email.

I find it ironic that my best YouTube experience is on Windows Phone, granted with a premium 3rd party app, but still: I can't use YouTube on android or on my PC web browser because the interface is far too clunky. I can never find the content I want in anything resembling an intuitive way...

 

[Nowicki]

Youtube, netflix, and hbo go.

Comcast eat your heart out

 

[etronz]

Makes sense. It's hard to justify paying for youtube red (which is an unfortunate name in my opinion). Value added helps.

Personally, i think they should have a micro transactions method for skipping ads. I think it's worth $0.01 per ad-free view (that's probably more than what they charge advertisers anyway).

 

[Coriolanus]

Considering how profitable Youtube is, you'd think that Google would be throwing some of the Youtube money towards creating shows and movies before launching Youtube Red so they would have something at launch to entice people to use Youtube Red, rather than waiting until Red launches before looking for TV and movie exclusives.

As always, Google's media services offerings are really confusing.

 

[greatn]

I just hope this doesn't push out creators that frankly are not talented enough to do a "real" show but are quite entertaining to watch. They can make a decent living on youtube right now, but what happens to them if they have to compete with studios? (or are they basically already doing that?)

 

[theoilman]

Stone[/url]":2fp22c8s]Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

It always makes me laugh when people say it's too late to jump into xyz. It's never too late to jump into anything.

 

[Coriolanus]

Although one thing I would love to see would be H+ (the Youtube Series about a transhumanist future) to be made into hourly episodic dramas instead of 10-15 minute vignettes.

 

[vlam]

theoilman[/url]":2cix14mk]

Stone[/url]":2cix14mk]Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

It always makes me laugh when people say it's too late to jump into xyz. It's never too late to jump into anything.

Might be too late to jump into the diesel car market....

 

[theoilman]

greatn[/url]":38uxnn6l]I just hope this doesn't push out creators that frankly are not talented enough to do a "real" show but are quite entertaining to watch. They can make a decent living on youtube right now, but what happens to them if they have to compete with studios? (or are they basically already doing that?)

From what I hear about tweens and teens, they watch more YouTube, vine, snapchat etc than any kind of traditional media

 

[puppies]

etronz[/url]":1xty0xu7]Makes sense. It's hard to justify paying for youtube red (which is an unfortunate name in my opinion). Value added helps.

Personally, i think they should have a micro transactions method for skipping ads. I think it's worth $0.01 per ad-free view (that's probably more than what they charge advertisers anyway).

Microtransactions to skip ads. Where have I seen that idea....?

Spoiler

 

[caldepen]

Sounds great on paper, but I hope it doesn't disrupt the current model. I think when viewed in a historical context, Youtube's contribution to the "How to do something" part of the world, will be seem as one of the most important facets of the internet.

 

[jmshub]

The main incentive for most cord cutters is cost. If you have to have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, you end up paying the same amount to a bunch of different individual vendors instead of one big one.

 

[JiveTurkeyJerky]

Since they were kind enough to toss YouTubeRed into my GPMAA subscription - I'm totally for this

If I wasn't already enjoying the benefits of YTR thanks to my GPMAA I enjoy (at the early adopter price of $7.99) - it would take quite a bit to entice me away from Netflix/Prime/HBO - maybe they can just buy Hulu and put pressure on CBS (all I want is Colbert though)?

Also, on a tangential note - are they ever going to offer that Family Plan they discussed this fall?

 

[MarksAngel]

jmshub[/url]":31zr5rec]The main incentive for most cord cutters is cost. If you have to have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, you end up paying the same amount to a bunch of different individual vendors instead of one big one.

I think for a lot of us that use to be the case, but now it's more of a, "I want to watch what I want to watch WHEN I want to watch it" thing.

After being spoiled with making your own schedule for media consumption it's definitely hard to go back to scheduled programming.

 

[Shannara]

I've had Red YouTube since it launched over a month ago (This article is incorrect). There is literally no professional red youtube content at this time. The only reason I subscribed was to get rid of the spam.

 

[fenris_uy]

MarksAngel[/url]":hjax86jx]

jmshub[/url]":hjax86jx]The main incentive for most cord cutters is cost. If you have to have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, you end up paying the same amount to a bunch of different individual vendors instead of one big one.

I think for a lot of us that use to be the case, but now it's more of a, "I want to watch what I want to watch WHEN I want to watch it" thing.

After being spoiled with making your own schedule for media consumption it's definitely hard to go back to scheduled programming.

Biggest problem that I have trying to watch GoT or TWD. "Oh, I need to stop doing this that I'm enjoying to do that other thing."

 

[Danrarbc]

Onyx Spartan II[/url]":q5393fcg]Is this why full 30 second Hulu-style ad rolls have been interrupting me in the middle of my videos the last couple of days? Trying to drive people to sign up for Red so they have a more attractive platform for this professional content?

Mid-roll ads are only used if the video creator specifies they want them.

 

[etronz]

No one likes the micro-transaction idea? There are outfits like swagbuck and perktv that pay people about $0.001 per video ad view. As such, charging the end user $0.01 per ad skip should be more profitable than presenting the ad. Just maintain a prepaid balance on youtube for 'pay per skip.' That is cheaper than the cellular data wasted on the ad view.

It's hard to justify Red's 'all you can eat' price. I'm not glued to the youtube, but would love to avoid video ads. Ad skips would cost me closer to $0.25 per video viewed based upon current pricing.

 

[PseudonymAnon]

baobrain[/url]":2eyn8zvt]I don't mind this, if they can pull it off it only means better content for us. Even if they don't pull it off it'll be avaluable failure that other companies such as Netflix can learn from.

I would be more concerned about going back to the cable day of multiple subscriptions with overwrapping contents. I already have that with Netflix and Prime. I don't need this from youtube. I will most likely stop bothering with youtube altogether.

 

[MisterAlex]

Stone[/url]":qbsbgwvl]Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

That's a valid point I suppose, but at the same time I've never been overly impressed with Netflix—though I have been subscribed for a while now. And the Prime Video interface is such garbage that I hardly ever touch it.

I, for one, am definitely interested in seeing what the Buy n Large video streaming service is like before I start passing judgement or throwing stones. The fact that it'll also remove ads from the video clips I usually watch is certainly a nice perk.

 

[caldepen]

Danrarbc[/url]":xv7ap7b9]

Onyx Spartan II[/url]":xv7ap7b9]Is this why full 30 second Hulu-style ad rolls have been interrupting me in the middle of my videos the last couple of days? Trying to drive people to sign up for Red so they have a more attractive platform for this professional content?

Mid-roll ads are only used if the video creator specifies they want them.

I have just noticed that very same mandatory 30 second ad on quite a few different videos I watch all the time (I have a toddler), so unless they all specified this at the same time, something else is going on.

 

[Bhairitu]

nehinks[/url]":1o40i4fc]

baobrain[/url]":1o40i4fc]I don't mind this, if they can pull it off it only means better content for us. Even if they don't pull it off it'll be avaluable failure that other companies such as Netflix can learn from.

I would agree, except for the Balkanization of streaming services we've seen. New exclusive shows are one thing - it's a product that wouldn't exist otherwise, and that is a net positive. However, there is a growing tendency for the competing streaming services to fight over preexisting shows which is a net negative for consumers. I don't want to have to pay for 4 different services just to have basic access to most things.

I've got plenty to watch with just two services. I don't need more. But these companies want to "me too" and jump on the bandwagon. It's like they don't do any 'due diligence" to see if there is actually room for yet another pay service. Must not teach "due diligence" in college these days but then what would professors know about it?

 

[peragrin]

Stone[/url]":3tknhn6n]Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

You tube has had streaming channels for a while now, including live events.

My problem with youtube is the arbitrary nature of the published content. Youtube will disable broadcasting to TV's, or tv devices if it might possibly also shown on regular TV. I was watching a a live stream last year, that had zero TV broadcast, but since they didn't pay youtube huge sums of money yoututbe wouldn't stream to TV's or tv devices(roku, chromecast).

You tube is going to offer to view shows but you won't be able to watch it on your tv without running it through your laptop first.

 

[SLee]

Bhairitu[/url]":1vu3uvg3]
I've got plenty to watch with just two services. I don't need more. But these companies want to "me too" and jump on the bandwagon. It's like they don't do any 'due diligence" to see if there is actually room for yet another pay service. Must not teach "due diligence" in college these days but then what would professors know about it?

How'd you know they didn't do due diligence?

 

[Howitzer86]

Nowicki[/url]":1l1smjpl]Youtube, netflix, and hbo go.

Comcast eat your heart out

Comcast: Well, if you're going to be like that... here, have a 300 GB bandwidth cap, with unlimited bandwidth for Xfinity streaming. Thankyou for choosing Comcast!

 

[mike8675309]

caldepen[/url]":3ovy9qcf]

Danrarbc[/url]":3ovy9qcf]

Onyx Spartan II[/url]":3ovy9qcf]Is this why full 30 second Hulu-style ad rolls have been interrupting me in the middle of my videos the last couple of days? Trying to drive people to sign up for Red so they have a more attractive platform for this professional content?

Mid-roll ads are only used if the video creator specifies they want them.

I have just noticed that very same mandatory 30 second ad on quite a few different videos I watch all the time (I have a toddler), so unless they all specified this at the same time, something else is going on.

Creators can change that at any time they want. I have found many creators that will keep the pre-roll off the first week for a video but turn it on for any time after that first week.

 

[MunkiLord]

YouTube needs to work on a better UI for devices like Roku, XBox, etc before they do anything like this. Right now it is terrible and why I suggest people avoid it altogether.

 

[crhilton]

Stone[/url]":1mr76cjb]Not that Youtube hasn't been busy doing what they do, but they sat back and let everyone else develop subscription-based streaming platforms while they were hosting cat videos.

It seems a little late to be jumping into this game.

I'd say it's still very early. "Cable cutter" services are still a tiny joke compared to cable subscriptions. There's a ton of room for growth left, it's the entire market for cable TV that's up for grabs.

 

[fishbait]

im with the people saying its a little too late for them to be jumping in thing is with hulu and Netflix they started with no expectations of what they are from people watching them youtube has long been the place for inane little videos, not full streaming shows, not exclusive content, etc etc, that repuation has been firmly established, and with the way their foisting this on everyone ala google plus that makes it even less attractive, on top of which their naming sense is either a joke or the best negative marketing ever, but that will draw light expectations of the service that arent likely to be fulfilled on top of the fact that they really dont have anything compelling to launch this service with.

so im with the people saying its a little too late for youtube but not for the same reasons

 

[caldepen]

mike8675309[/url]":3n5ufzgy]

caldepen[/url]":3n5ufzgy]

Danrarbc[/url]":3n5ufzgy]

Onyx Spartan II[/url]":3n5ufzgy]Is this why full 30 second Hulu-style ad rolls have been interrupting me in the middle of my videos the last couple of days? Trying to drive people to sign up for Red so they have a more attractive platform for this professional content?

Mid-roll ads are only used if the video creator specifies they want them.

I have just noticed that very same mandatory 30 second ad on quite a few different videos I watch all the time (I have a toddler), so unless they all specified this at the same time, something else is going on.

Creators can change that at any time they want. I have found many creators that will keep the pre-roll off the first week for a video but turn it on for any time after that first week.

Nah, that doesn't hold up, they started appearing all at the same time period on many different videos (some very old). They quite obviously didn't all just up and switch at the same time. It was an advertising roll-out or the like.

 

[jbart]

YouTube would also seem to have the right personnel in place. The Journal notes that YouTube recently hired Susanne Daniels, a former programming chief of MTV [...]

An alliance of YouTube and MTV talents, that should make for deliciously high quality content !

 

[jjit]

I think youtube should promo more genuine indie film and TV
not viral video company-back shit