YouTube will spend millions to produce its own original programming starting later this year. The Google-owned video site announced its plans at the annual NewFronts conference in New York on Friday.
Bloomberg reports the streaming firm will make a multi-million dollar investment in over 40 original shows and movies in the next year. Sources tell the publication that YouTube hopes the high-profile stars they hope to lure into the projects will attract big advertisers willing to sponsor the content.
“We’re working with YouTube stars and big celebrities that we know have global appeal, advertiser appeal and are largely established on the platform,” Susanne Daniels, YouTube’s head of original content, said in an interview.
Project will be Ad-Supported
The content won’t be a part of the streaming site’s $9.99 per month ad-free YouTube Red offering, instead it will be free to view on the streaming service’s website, and will be supported by ads.
Comedian Kevin Hart, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and the comedy duo Rhett & Link are producing unscripted shows that will debut this year.
DeGeneres, who hosts one of the most popular talk shows on TV, will take viewers behind the scenes of her program. Hart, a popular comedian, will try a different trendy workout routine every week alongside celebrity guests in “Kevin Hart: What the Fit?” The show will debut on his Laugh Out Loud Network on YouTube.
YouTube also will help Rhett & Link expand on their already popular “Good Mythical Morning” to create a series that feels every bit as grand as TV talk shows. While most recent episodes feature the two hosts at a desk, the revamped version, in its 11th season, will include more guests, challenges and correspondents.
Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, and Ryan Seacrest have also confirmed they’ll be creating shows for the site.
