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YouTube signs Sony, CBS, BBC and others to supply "thousands" of professionally produced videos

YouTube will begin hosting professionally produced TV shows and movies in a whole new section of the site. Google is also considering charging for services and content in the future.

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Computing | by Samuel Axon | Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:42PM | 1 comment

YouTube announced today that it has signed Lionsgate, Starz, Sony, CBS, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the BBC to provide professionally produced TV shows and movies for a brand new section of the site. Visitors to the site will be given two options via tabs: the original, user-generated section, and a "Shows" section for all the pro content. All the pro content will be hosted via the video player from Sony's Crackle video site, with Sony taking responsibility for managing advertising and the like.

You might have already heard that YouTube was in talks with Sony, but it looks like the deal has officially gone through along with a few others, and there's some concrete information on what's to come for the site. YouTube doesn't appear to be abandoning its user-generated roots, but its new focus on professional content makes sense since competition in that area is mounting, and those kinds of videos are (at least for the moment) more easily monetized.

And not just with ads, either. According to CNet, a YouTube exec said on a conference call that the company is exploring the possibility of implementing microtransactions or subscriptions at some point in the future. That doesn't bode well, but can it be avoided? Word is that YouTube's not sustainable otherwise.

This story around the web:

Trusted sources:
external link YouTube signs Sony, redesigns site for… [news.cnet.com]
external link YouTube signs Sony, redesigns site for… [Techmeme]
external link Google Losing Up To $1.65 Million a Day on… [eCoustics]
external link Sony, Lionsgate included in YouTube deal [hollywoodreporter.com]

Get more information on topics relating to this story:


Related company news:
Google, Sony, BBC, YouTube, CBS
Related glossary terms:
Streaming video, microtransactions
Related devices and services:
YouTube, Crackle

Comments (1)

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Darren external link (10:32 AM on Fri Apr 17, 2009)

Sometimes it does actually make you think what it was that Google first set out to do! From the smart beginnings of Google it all seemed to fall apart once it was sold. (Typical Situation) Yet, as they continued across the water looking for more cash from investors, they seemed to have missed the point somewhat.

I think it should clear the decks now, get rid of the multi million pound companies and take it back to what it was, as well as what it had developed.

I just started using feedburner in the lest 2.5 hours and I will keep things posted to see if anyone can give and string tips - would be most appreciated.

Regards
Darren

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Anonymous (11:44 PM on Fri Nov 20, 2009)

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