The world’s most popular online video service YouTube released a new redesign to their website, as part of its shift towards professional categorized content from the chaos of individual user-generated videos.
The site will now be all about channels, not individual videos (or what we’ve coined “viral” videos.) Google now wants you to watch videos on YouTube the way you watch episodes on cable, except you can write snarky comments if you’re feeling bitchy.
You will remember that YouTube previously announced they will be launching premium channels with professionally made series. I wondered then how anyone would find these channels since the homepage did not support that kind of viewer experience. They did too.
When logged in, the viewer will now find his/her favorite channels, links to what’s trending/popular, Google+/Facebook links so they can check in on what videos friends are recommending, plus a list of channels YouTube recommends for him/her to check out. The viewers will also find a link to “ADD CHANNELS” where they can search by category (ie. comedy, cooking & health, film & entertainment, sports, celebrities & gossip). *** Note: no drama category yet. Nor did I see a women’s category yet. Also, I would presume the search results only include Partners, though I cannot confirm that at this time.
Per Mashable, “The future of the YouTube experience has channels at the center of it,” says Margaret Stewart, director of User Experience at YouTube’s headquarters in San Bruno, Calif. “It’s a container for all the world’s video, and it needs to be the best home for that.”
How does this affect the everyday, ordinary uploader? The uploader will now have four different templates to choose for his/her channel:
* The Blogger template: A featured video, a reverse chronological list of videos from 1 playlist of your choosing, playlists, and other Channels.
* The Creator template: A featured video, featured playlists, and other Channels.
* The Network template: A featured video and featured Channels
* The Everything template: A featured video, featured playlists, and featured Channels
What do you think?
Trying to get my head around this. Thanks a million for this summary. What do you think this means for you and the webseries you feature? What might a ‘women’s’ channel mean, especially for women filmmakers who’d like to monetise their films/webseries?
Excellent point. In this environment, I would presume a YouTube women’s channel would be mostly lifestyle shows, along the lines of Own or Oxygen, because that’s been the trend with other video sites. It is also the trend with the rest of their announced premium programming, which is 90% lifestyle.
I always advocate that is the wrong tactic because that market is saturated and women want more complicated, character-driven shows. I think a women’s channel on YouTube focusing on women’s films/web series would be way better!