Posts Tagged: YouTube
5 ways we’re toughening our approach to protect families on YouTube and YouTube Kids
In recent months, we’ve noticed a growing trend around content on YouTube that attempts to pass as family-friendly, but is clearly not. While some of these videos may be suitable for adults, others are completely unacceptable, so we are working to remove them from YouTube. Here’s what we’re doing:
- Tougher application of our Community Guidelines and faster enforcement through technology: We have always had strict policies against child endangerment, and we partner closely with regional authorities and experts to help us enforce these policies and report to law enforcement through NCMEC. In the last couple of weeks we expanded our enforcement guidelines around removing content featuring minors that may be endangering a child, even if that was not the uploader’s intent. In the last week we terminated over 50 channels and have removed thousands of videos under these guidelines, and we will continue to work quickly to remove more every day. We also implemented policies to age-restrict (only available to people over 18 and logged in) content with family entertainment characters but containing mature themes or adult humor. To help surface potentially violative content, we are applying machine learning technology and automated tools to quickly find and escalate for human review.
- Removing ads from inappropriate videos targeting families: Back in June, we posted an update to our advertiser-friendly guidelines making it clear that we will remove ads from any content depicting family entertainment characters engaged in violent, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate behavior, even if done for comedic or satirical purposes. Since June, we’ve removed ads from 3M videos under this policy and we’ve further strengthened the application of that policy to remove ads from another 500K violative videos.
- Blocking inappropriate comments on videos featuring minors: We have historically used a combination of automated systems and human flagging and review to remove inappropriate sexual or predatory comments on videos featuring minors. Comments of this nature are abhorrent and we work with NCMEC to report illegal behavior to law enforcement. Starting this week we will begin taking an even more aggressive stance by turning off all comments on videos of minors where we see these types of comments.
- Providing guidance for creators who make family-friendly content: We’ve created a platform for people to view family-friendly content — YouTube Kids. We want to help creators produce quality content for the YouTube Kids app, so in the coming weeks we will release a comprehensive guide on how creators can make enriching family content for the app.
- Engaging and learning from experts: While there is some content that clearly doesn’t belong on YouTube, there is other content that is more nuanced or challenging to make a clear decision on. For example, today, there are many cartoons in mainstream entertainment that are targeted towards adults, and feature characters doing things we wouldn’t necessarily want children to see. Those may be OK for YouTube.com, or if we require the viewer to be over 18, but not for someone younger. Similarly, an adult dressed as a popular family character could be questionable content for some audiences, but could also be meant for adults recorded at a comic book convention. To help us better understand how to treat this content, we will be growing the number of experts we work with, and doubling the number of Trusted Flaggers we partner with in this area.
Across the board we have scaled up resources to ensure that thousands of people are working around the clock to monitor, review and make the right decisions across our ads and content policies. These latest enforcement changes will take shape over the weeks and months ahead as we work to tackle this evolving challenge. We’re wholly committed to addressing these issues and will continue to invest the engineering and human resources needed to get it right. As a parent and as a leader in this organization, I’m determined that we do.
Johanna Wright, Vice President of Product Management at YouTube
Lean back and watch YouTube TV with a new app for your big screen
Since the launch of YouTube TV in April, you’ve streamed live sports, local and national news, and can’t-miss shows on your phone, tablet and computer. Now, we’re psyched to announce our new YouTube TV app, made for the big screen.
We know you love watching TV content on, well, your TV. In fact, over half the time spent watching YouTube TV is consumed through Chromecast on the big screen. And members who stream with a Chromecast are highly engaged, watching over four hours a day on the weekends with football season back in full swing.
So today we’re excited to unveil the new YouTube TV app built for TV devices. In the next few days, you’ll be able to stream live TV through the new YouTube TV app on Android TV devices including NVIDIA SHIELD and TVs with Android TV built-in, such as Sony, as well as on the Xbox One family of devices (Xbox One, Xbox One S, and soon Xbox One X).
In the coming weeks we’ll be launching the new app on Smart TVs, such as LG, Samsung, Sony, along with Apple TV. We also recently expanded our TV device support by launching voice commands with Google Home paired with Chromecast.
If you love the simplicity of finding your favorite content on the mobile app, you’ll be happy to know you’ll still find our signature tabs on the TV app as well–home, live and library. Finding, playing, and recording your favorite live TV is as simple as before.
Here’s what’s new on this TV app:
- Control your live TV experience with your TV’s remote control or game controller.
- For a more cinematic look, we made the background dark on your TVs.
- A new Live guide made for your big screen so you can get a sneak-peek at what’s airing soon.
- Never miss the action with our background playback experience built for your big screen.
- Easily pick up where you left off on another device when you get home.
If you aren’t a YouTube TV member, try it out free today and start watching on the big screen right away. With game 6 of the World Series® tomorrow and a possibly historic game 7 on Wednesday, now’s the time to start your free trial.
YouTube TV is now available in all top 50 metro areas, covering over two-thirds of the U.S. We’re expanding quickly, so visit tv.youtube.com and sign up to be notified when we launch in your market.
Okalo Ikhena, YouTube TV Product Manager, recently watched all five World Series® games live on the big screen with the new YouTube TV app.
ONE + YouTube: Join us in saying ALL #GirlsCount
Posted by Gayle Smith, ONE CEO, and Danielle Tiedt, YouTube Vice President of Marketing
A new YouTube look that works for you
When YouTube launched 12 years ago, it was a single website that supported one video format, 320×240 at 4:3 aspect ratio. Fast forward to today, and YouTube lets you watch any combination of SD, HD, 4K, 360, 3-D, and live video on nearly every device with an internet connection – from desktops to phones, tablets to TVs, game consoles, and even VR headsets.
We’ve also introduced apps and services that give you new ways to watch and get even closer to the content and creators you love. Music fans, gamers, and TV lovers each have unique experiences specifically tailored for their favorite content with YouTube Music, YouTube Gaming and YouTube TV. For families looking for the best way to watch together, we launched the YouTube Kids app. And for fans who want an uninterrupted, ad-free experience, and exclusive original content from creators, there’s the YouTube Red membership.
To put it simply, YouTube’s evolved … a lot. And we’re not even close to done. Over the last few months we’ve started releasing updates and will continue to throughout the rest of the year. When all is said and done, we’ll bring a new level of functionality and a more consistent look across our desktop and mobile experiences.
Let’s start with the YouTube mobile app, which is getting a bunch of new features:
- Clean new design: We’ve made the header white to let content take the lead and moved the navigation tabs to the bottom of the app so they’re closer to your thumbs. We also added new Library and Account tabs that give you easy access to what you’re looking for.
- Videos that move with you: One of the things we’re working on is bringing gestures to YouTube. Earlier this year, we introduced a gesture that allows you to double tap on the left or right side of a video to fast forward or rewind 10 seconds. Give it a try! We already see billions of double taps per day. And I wanted to give you a sneak peek at another gesture I am really excited about. In the coming months, we’ll experiment with a feature that lets you jump between videos with a simple swipe of your hand: just swipe left to watch a previous video or swipe right to watch the next one.
- Watch at your own pace: Users love that they are able to speed up and slow down the playback of a video on desktop, and we’re excited to bring this feature to the mobile app today, so you can enjoy videos at whatever speed you prefer.
- Adapt to any video, beautifully: We’ve also been experimenting with new ways to display all videos in the best possible way. Soon, the YouTube player will seamlessly change shape to match the video format you’re watching, such as vertical, square or horizontal. That means you’ll always get the best viewing experience automatically – including vertical videos with no black bars on the sides!
- Browse and discover while you watch: We recently added a feature that lets you view a row of suggested videos while you’re watching in full screen. We’re also working on transforming the area below the player so you can browse videos in totally new ways.
Looking beyond the YouTube app, we’ve also been working on a new desktop design. And thanks to all the positive feedback, we’re now excited to make it available to all our users around the globe starting today! Our new look applies Material Design to YouTube and delivers a fresh, simple and intuitive user experience that lets content shine – because there’s nothing more important than the creators and videos we all love to watch. My favorite feature of this new desktop design is Dark Theme, which turns the background dark while you watch for a more cinematic look.
The bright red cherry on top of this update sundae is a refreshed YouTube Logo and YouTube Icon. Designed for our multi-screen world, the updated Logo combines a cleaned up version of the YouTube wordmark and Icon, creating a more flexible design that works better across a variety of devices, even on the tiniest screens. Why’s it more flexible? When room is limited (say on a smartphone) you can use the brightened up Icon as an abbreviated Logo, which will be seen more easily and read more clearly. You’ll see the new Logo and Icon roll out across mobile and desktop today, and across all our other apps and services soon.
We know this is a lot of change, but we want to make clear that there’s one thing that stays the same: YouTube’s mission. We’re here to give people a voice and show them the world – no matter what device they use.
Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer, recently watched “YouTube: What will you watch next?“
Taylor Swift’s new music video sets first-day record on YouTube
Taylor Swift returned from her self-imposed social media exile with a single that's already breaking records. Her music video for 'Look What You Made Me Do' raked in over 31 million views on YouTube in its first 24 hours, surpassing Adele's previous…
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YouTube Live with Kevin Durant and host sWooZie
This Tuesday, August 22, 2017, NBA Champion and Finals MVP Kevin Durant will take over The YouTube Space LA.
Hosted by sWooZie, Durant will be interviewed by fan favorite YouTube stars What’s Inside, Hot Ones, and Ryan ToysReview for a special VR180 livestream. The event will be broadcast live exclusively on his YouTube channel starting at 3 p.m. PT.
The VR180 livestream can be viewed on desktop and mobile devices in HD, or fans can enjoy an immersive VR experience with Cardboard, Daydream View, and PSVR.
During the livestream, Durant will meet up with Lincoln and Dan of What’s Inside to look inside the new Nike KD10. They will be joined by Nike Basketball footwear designer Leo Chang to speak more about the design and evolution of the KD signature line. He will also have fun with Ryan of Ryan ToysReview before meeting Sean Evans for a Hot Ones challenge.
“My experience on YouTube has been incredible and so has the feedback I’ve received from fans all around the world. Being able to give people an inside look at my life on and off the court, as well as push the envelope with never-before-done content is very important to me and the vision for my channel,” said Durant. “As I continue to step up the level of content I deliver, and as I keep building my creative network the sky’s the limit for what my team and YouTube can do together. The YouTube Live experience is a perfect example of that evolution and I look forward to having some fun as well during this livestream.”
Launched in April 2017, Durant’s channel has gained over 350,000 subscribers and nearly 11 million views fueled by video hits from Still KD: Through the Noise to an epic slow motion dunk in collaboration with YouTube sensations The Slow Mo Guys.
Don’t forget to subscribe to get notified when the action starts! See you on the livestream.
Five observations from my time at YouTube
Earlier this year, I was asked by Google (because they know I am pre “Sucker M.C.”) to work on a Doodle celebrating the 44th anniversary of the music that changed my life. The birth of hip-hop was a fusion of expression and technical innovation that forever changed our culture and Google wanted to celebrate the moment when it all came together.
I had one condition on participating: that the project be authentic and not some tech company’s interpretation of a cultural revolution. They couldn’t agree more and the collaboration led to an amazing interactive experience that used technology and Google’s reach to celebrate the birth of hip-hop. It showed me that Google and YouTube know how to listen to feedback (in this case, mine), and are willing to work hard to get things right.
I joined Google and YouTube because I saw a great opportunity to bring tech and music together and do right by artists, the industry and fans. Eight months in, I’m more optimistic than ever that YouTube can do that, but the truth is there’s still a disconnect between YouTube and the rest of the industry.
So, how did YouTube get here? What explains the current state of YouTube’s relationship with the industry? I think there are five factors that explain the current situation.
- Late to the party. I get why some in the music industry would be skeptical of their relationship with YouTube. They were late to the subscriptions party and YouTube’s focus for many years was largely just on ads. While they have been at subscriptions for a year, and the numbers are very encouraging, YouTube must prove its credibility when it comes to its ability to shepherd their funnel of users into paid subscriptions.
But since I’ve been here, I’ve been incredibly encouraged by what I’ve seen. The team is serious about subscriptions. And now with YouTube Music and Google Play Music merging, I’m confident they will build an even better subscription service. And with more deals like the one YouTube recently signed with Warner, they’re going to be able to take it global.
- Twin-engine growth. The success of streaming subscriptions is one reason why I’m so optimistic about the future. Subscription revenue is still in its infancy, yet it’s already reaping billions for the music industry. It’s not just some business model on a whiteboard; it’s a real and rapidly growing source of cash for labels and artists today.
Some think ads are the death of the music industry. Ads are not death. Death is death. Irrelevance is death. Fans not being exposed to new music is death. My time at YouTube has me convinced that advertising is another powerful source of growth for the industry. YouTube’s ads hustle has already brought over a billion dollars in 12 months to the industry and it’s growing rapidly. Combined with YouTube’s growing subscription service, they’ve now got two engines taking the industry to a more lucrative place than it’s ever been before.
But that all depends on whether or not the industry chokes off these new sources of growth. I’m old enough to remember what the industry was saying about iTunes and Spotify before they started contributing billions to its bottom line. The growth that the industry is seeing today proves that ads and subscription thrive side by side.
- Let’s talk dead presidents. It is important that labels, publishers and YouTube come together to make transparency a reality, as I strongly believe it will help everyone in the industry move the business forward.
Artists and songwriters need to truly understand what they’re making on different platforms. It’s not enough for YouTube to say that it’s paid over $ 1 billion to the industry from ads. We (the labels, publishers and YouTube) must shine a light on artist royalties, show them how much they make from ads compared to subscriptions by geography and see how high their revenue is in the U.S. and compared to other services.
For instance, critics complain YouTube isn’t paying enough money for ad-supported streams compared to Spotify or Pandora. I was one of them! Then I got here and looked at the numbers myself. At over $ 3 per thousand streams in the U.S., YouTube is paying out more than other ad supported services.
Why doesn’t anyone know that? Because YouTube is global and the numbers get diluted by lower contributions in developing markets. But they’re working the ads hustle like crazy so payouts can ramp up quickly all around the world. If they can do that, this industry could double in the next few years.
- Fortune AND fame. Every day for the last 30 years, I’ve woken up with the same thought: maybe today’s the day I’m going to meet an artist that’s going to change pop culture. I love watching when an artist goes from obscurity to celebrity. That’s my drug.
Every artist I’ve ever worked with wanted some fame and fortune. YouTube will deliver fortune … but I think they need to be just as focused on bringing the fame. YouTube is already a great force for breaking new artists; in fact, the majority of music watchtime on YouTube is coming from its recommendations, rather than people searching for what they want to listen to. But YouTube needs to find new ways to promote and break artists and their albums so they have a chance to shine on the platform and connect with their fans. This is one of my biggest priorities and you’ll see more coming soon.
- Without safe harbor, we’d all be lost at sea. I’ve spent my professional life fighting for artists to get what they deserve. I’ve worked with the RIAA and the IFPI to fight piracy since back when the main concern was bootlegged tapes. Safe harbor has become an obsession — with many complaining it’s the cause of all of industry’s woes. I’m not parroting the company line when I say the focus on copyright safe harbors is a distraction. Safe harbor helps open platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Soundcloud and Instagram give a voice to millions of artists around the world, making the industry more competitive and vibrant.
Every artist should be concerned if their music shows up online without credit or payment. But YouTube’s team has built a system in Content ID that helps rightsholders earn money no matter who uploads their music. As of 2016, 99.5 percent of music claims on YouTube are matched automatically by Content ID and are either removed or monetized.
Before Content ID, when a fan shared a song with a friend through a mix tape, it was called piracy. Now it’s generated over $ 2 billion for content owners and goes far beyond what the safe harbor provision requires.
One of the first jobs I ever had in the music business was working as a road manager for Run DMC. Doing that taught me a lesson that has formed the core of what I’ve tried to do my entire career: set things up well so that the artists and fans can come together and make magic happen. I’ve spent my entire life helping artists achieve fame and fortune. I wouldn’t have joined YouTube if I didn’t believe the company was committed to delivering more revenue to artists, labels, publishers and composers — they just have to set them up well and get out of their way.
With love and respect,
Lyor Cohen
Lyor recently watched “Brothers Gonna Work It Out”
Introducing a new way to share YouTube videos
Remember the first time you heard the opening beats of “Despacito”? Your ears perked up, your foot unconsciously tapping beneath the table. Like every “Despacito” loving person before you, you can’t help but dance, and when you’d finally caught your breath, you had to share it with all your friends. It would be wrong to keep something this good to yourself. And that means you had to copy and paste a link into an email, social or messaging app to share that moment.
But like chats around the water cooler, shouldn’t sharing a video be as easy as saying, “Have you heard this new song?” We’ve been experimenting with a better way to share videos on YouTube since last year. Thanks to all your feedback, we made some improvements and are now ready to roll out this new sharing feature to all users globally.
Starting today, you can share videos with your friends and family directly on YouTube. Not only can you share and receive videos in the app, you can also chat about them right on YouTube, reply with another video, invite others to the conversation, and more. We think it’ll make sharing easier, faster and more fun on your phone. And if you want to continue sharing videos through other apps, you can still do that too.
These shared videos all live in a brand new tab on your YouTube mobile app, making it easier than ever to catch up on videos your friends have shared or to show them a few of your own favorites.
Start a group, share your favorite “Despacito” version and make a friend dance!
Benoît de Boursetty, Product Manager, recently shared “A new way to share on YouTube.”
Bringing new Redirect Method features to YouTube
A month ago, we told you about four new steps we’re taking to combat terrorist content on YouTube. One of our core areas of focus is more work to counter online violent extremism. As a first step we’re now rolling out features from Jigsaw’s Redirect Method on YouTube.
This early product integration of the Redirect Method on YouTube is our latest effort to provide more resources and more content that can help change minds of people at risk of being radicalized. Over the coming weeks, we hope to build on this by:
- Expanding the new YouTube product functionality to a wider set of search queries in other languages beyond English.
- Using machine learning to dynamically update the search query terms.
- Working with expert NGOs on developing new video content designed to counter violent extremist messaging at different parts of the radicalization funnel.
- Collaborating with Jigsaw to expand the “Redirect Method” in Europe.
This work is made possible by our partnerships with NGOs that are experts in this field, and we will continue to collaborate closely with them to help support their research through our technological tools. We hope our work together will also help open and broaden a dialogue about other work that can be done to counter radicalization of potential recruits.
As we develop this model of the Redirect Method on YouTube, we’ll measure success by how much this content is engaged. Stay tuned for more.
The YouTube Team
Google offering Play Music and YouTube Red 4 month trials to some users
If you have never been a subscriber to Google’s Play Music or YouTube Red services, Google is hoping to lure you into giving them a try with a slightly better trial period than normal. Usually new subscribers can get 2 months of either service for free before the monthly charges kick in. However, the Google Play […]
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YouTube spotlight on “Country Foods”
Everyday young professionals in India move out of their small towns to the big cities in search of their dream jobs and to earn a steady income. Srinath and Laxman did the same and they were employed by a well established media company, earning a good income to take care of their families back home.
They lived together in a small rented apartment and cooked on their own. They made their traditional recipes but frequently used YouTube to try out new cuisines. They were awestruck to see the millions of views for recipe videos on YouTube. With a background in post production, they decided to explore the opportunity for themselves and in August 2016 launched a traditional Indian recipes channel on YouTube.
Despite concerns from their families, they quit their jobs and decided to pursue this as a full-time career. When they partnered with Laxman’s 106-year-old grandmother – Mastanamma – their channel skyrocketed. Her delicious traditional recipes have received audience attention all around the world. We spoke with Srinath about their passion for food, the power of YouTube, and what lies ahead:
How did your family and friends react when you told them about your plans to quit your job and start a YouTube channel?
When I first told my wife about my plans to quit my job to start a YouTube channel, she was not very happy. At the time, I had a good job and a decent salary – we also have kids so she was not supportive of my decision and didn’t understand why I wanted to do this. But both Laxman and I were convinced that we wanted to do this – so we quit our jobs and started the channel and became YouTube creators.
What were your expectations?
We were blessed that our channel started doing well pretty quickly and we started making a similar amount of money as we were in our past jobs. This gave my family some confidence in what I was doing. But after four months, we realized that we needed to do something different to sustain our growth.
At any point did you think that this may not work?
We were visiting Laxman’s village called Gudiwada and since it’s a small village, everybody was aware of our YouTube channel. They were all very happy for us but they had no idea that we were looking for new ideas to build on our start.
That’s when Laxman’s mother suggested that we should try the recipes of Laxman’s grandmother, Mastanamma, because she makes really authentic and delicious dishes. At first we didn’t think much of it but we decided to try her food. Her food was amazing and it was not like anything we had tried before so we decided to record a few videos with her.
Our first video with her was a hit and received 3 million views. We uploaded another video titled “Watermelon Chicken by My Granny” and that went viral! We couldn’t believe that this recipe video hit over 8 million views. There truly is magic in her recipes and the food she makes, and that magic is now available on YouTube for everyone to enjoy. She is 106 years old and still enjoys cooking herself and for everyone. Because of YouTube, she’s able to share that passion on a global scale.
What does Mastanamma think about having her own food channel that is now popular all over the world?
Having a YouTube channel has given her new experiences that none of us ever thought were possible. She was even recently interviewed by the BBC! She doesn’t completely realize what she has created but it’s something that is connecting people all around the world. We now visit her once a month and shoot new videos for two or three days of the newest recipes she wants to share on YouTube.
Have you thought about what you want to do next?
We never expected to come this far but we’re delighted that we took a chance and our families are now very happy and supportive of our work. Our income has also gone up tremendously and our viewership comes from all over the world. We want to build on this success and are already working on a new animation channel for kids and families. We’re excited to create something unique in that space as well.
What advice does Mastanamma have for her viewers?
She says that there is no better food than the food you make yourself. Everyone should learn to cook because it’s healthier and brings people together.
Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube Announce Formation of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
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Technological solutions: Our companies will work together to refine and improve existing joint technical work, such as the Shared Industry Hash Database; exchange best practices as we develop and implement new content detection and classification techniques using machine learning; and define standard transparency reporting methods for terrorist content removals.
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Research: We will commission research to inform our counter-speech efforts and guide future technical and policy decisions around the removal of terrorist content.
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Knowledge-sharing: We will work with counter-terrorism experts including governments, civil society groups, academics and other companies to engage in shared learning about terrorism. And through a joint partnership with the U.N. Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (U.N. CTED) and the ICT4Peace Initiative, we are establishing a broad knowledge-sharing network to:
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Engage with smaller companies: We will help them develop the technology and processes necessary to tackle terrorist and extremist content online.
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Develop best practices: We already partner with organizations such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Anti-Defamation League and Global Network Initiative to identify how best to counter extremism and online hate, while respecting freedom of expression and privacy. We can socialize these best practices, and develop additional shared learnings on topics such as community guideline development, and policy enforcement.
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Counterspeech: Each of us already has robust counterspeech initiatives in place (e.g., YouTube’s Creators for Change, Jigsaw’s Redirect Method, Facebook’s P2P and OCCI, Microsoft’s partnership with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue for counter-narratives on Bing, Twitter’s global NGO training program). The forum we have established allows us to learn from and contribute to one another’s counterspeech efforts, and discuss how to further empower and train civil society organizations and individuals who may be engaged in similar work and support ongoing efforts such as the Civil society empowerment project (CSEP).
YouTube hits 1.5 billion viewers per month, introduces new share and dynamic adapt features
New features for YouTube were introduced alongside the announcement of a major milestone. Every month there are 1.5 billion logged in viewers on YouTube, which Google says is about 20% of the world’s population. These viewers are watching an hour per day on mobile devices alone. That should mean the 1 billion hours of video […]
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Google bringing YouTube TV to 10 new markets
YouTube TV was Google’s answer to cable-less television services like Sling, DirecTV Now, and Playstation Vue. It’s been a very slow rollout, however, which shouldn’t surprise anyone that keeps up with how Google likes to trickle out new updates and services, but overall the reception has been pretty positive compared to the competition. Well, the […]
Come comment on this article: Google bringing YouTube TV to 10 new markets
Game on!: YouTube at E3 2017
From the hotly anticipated reveal of Xbox’s Project Scorpio to the breathtaking trailer of Hideo Kojima’s “Death Stranding,” gamers around the world joined together in celebration at last year’s E3. It’s the most anticipated event of the year for us gamers, where we get to hit refresh on every blog, website and gaming stream to see what the next year has in store.
This year, YouTube is back again to give gamers around the world a front row seat to everything at E3 on our YouTube Gaming hub. Yesterday we began our exclusive two-day, 17-hour livestream hosted by Geoff Keighley and brought to you by Totino’s Pizza Rolls™. We saw the reveal of the Xbox One X and made live Tiltbrush Art in mixed reality, all in 4K Ultra HD. We’re back today at 1 p.m. PT with more press releases, exclusive interviews, and discussion with YouTube’s biggest names.
But the YouTube E3 coverage doesn’t stop there! From Tuesday, June 13, to Thursday, June 15, Rooster Teeth takes over with nonstop discussion of the big announcements, interviews with your favorite developers, and game demos from the show, presented by “War for the Planet of the Apes,” in theaters July 14.
Finally, YouTube.com/e3 will host the Trailer Battle for its ninth year in a row. With our annual showcase of the hottest trailers released at and around E3, you can watch and vote for your favorite trailers, collect items, and build your inventory to save the multiverse! Be sure to come back the following week to see if your favorites made the top 5.
See you soon at E3!
Ryan Wyatt, Global Head of Gaming Content & Partnerships, recently watched “Sidemen vs YouTube All-Stars Live.”
‘Rocket Man,’ ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Tiny Dancer’ reimagined for YouTube, by … you!
A little while back, we asked you if you’d like to create the official music videos for three of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s biggest hits: “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets” and “Tiny Dancer.” And, well, you answered. Entries flooded in from over 50 countries around the world and you reminded us what magic is made when technology and creativity collide.
These iconic hits – released in 1971, 1972 and 1973 – were made before the emergence of music videos, yielding an opportunity to breathe new creativity into some of the most loved music of all time. We’re so excited to share the results of The Cut, Supported by YouTube with you here, a project dreamed up and made possible by Elton John and Bernie Taupin on the 50th anniversary of their songwriting partnership and designed to support new talent, just like you. The concept was beautifully simple. And the results are amazing.
Video: “Rocket Man”
Visual Medium: Animation
Winner: Majid Adin
Majid Adin’s winning video for “Rocket Man” is a poignant animated work that draws on his personal experiences as an Iranian refugee making his way to England — reimagining the song and giving a new perspective to the lyrics to tell a thought-provoking story of adventure, loneliness and hope. A fine art university graduate working in animation production, Adin travelled across Europe during the 2015 refugee crisis, spending time in the infamous Calais Jungle camp before being granted asylum in the U.K. and now rebuilding his life as an artist in Britain.
Video: “Bennie and the Jets”
Visual Medium: Choreography
Winner: Jack Whiteley and Laura Brownhill
The “Bennie and the Jets” video has been interpreted by director Jack Whiteley and choreographer/artistic director Laura Brownhill and tells the story of the formation of Bennie and her Jets. The set and central structure takes its inspiration from Fritz Lang’s 1927 science-fiction film, “Metropolis,” while the synchronized choreography is inspired by Busby Berkeley films, and the black-and-white aesthetic is a nod to the classic Hollywood era.
Video: “Tiny Dancer”
Visual Medium: Live action
Winner: Max Weiland
Max Weiland’s winning video for “Tiny Dancer” is a tribute to Los Angeles. The British director’s work shows people from all walks of life traveling around the city, all listening to the same song – “Tiny Dancer.” It’s inspired by Elton and Bernie’s love of California, Max Weiland captures the free-spirited characters of L.A, in this sun-soaked homage to the Golden State.
Thank you for the music … and the videos!
Maya Amoils, Product Marketing Manager, YouTube, recently watched “Katy Perry Goes Undercover as an Art Exhibit at the Whitney Museum | Vanity Fair.”
The YouTube Kids app is now available on even more screens!
Love using the YouTube Kids app on your phone and tablet? Well, we’re excited to announce that now you can enjoy your favorite videos on select smart TVs too!
Since launching just over two years ago, the YouTube Kids app has become the go-to destination for families around the world with more than 30 billion views and over 8 million weekly active viewers. Starting today, the YouTube Kids app will be available on LG, Samsung, and Sony smart TVs in the 26 countries where the app is currently launched*.
We’ve heard from families that they love watching videos on all their devices so bringing the entertaining and enriching content of YouTube Kids to the biggest personal screen (your TV!) seemed like the perfect fit.
The YouTube Kids app is the first Google product built from the ground up with kids in mind. The app makes it easier for kids to find videos on topics they want to explore. Whether it’s searching for science experiments, watching a favorite cartoon, or simply watching your favorite creator’s new videos, there is something for everyone!
The YouTube Kids app will be available on the following television sets: all 2015 – 2017 LG webOS TVs via the LG content store, all 2013 – 2017 Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-Ray Players that have access to the Samsung App Store, and after a firmware update on 2016-2017 Sony TVs (with the exception of Android TV, which will be available soon). Happy viewing from our family to yours!
*Countries where the YouTube Kids App is available: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Spain, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Singapore, and France. The availability of the YouTube Kids app in these countries is dependent on the individual television manufacturer
AJ Crane, Product Manager for YouTube Kids, recently watched “Kings of Atlantis” on YouTube Red
YouTube will fight fake news by offering workshops to teens
Google is already flagging fake news, but it knows that isn't always enough. People need to recognize what fake news is, too. To that end, its YouTube wing just launched an Internet Citizens program that will teach UK teens to spot fake news throug…
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Get the best seat in the house and watch Coachella live exclusively on YouTube
When you think of Coachella you think of amazing music artists, thrilling performances and nonstop fun in the middle of the desert. This year’s fest will be bigger than ever and even if you can’t make it to Coachella in person, you don’t have to miss out on a moment of the action.
For the seventh year in a row, YouTube brings you the exclusive Coachella livestream presented by T-Mobile. This year, with select acts also available in Live 360. Music fans from around the world can tune-in to Coachella’s YouTube channel from April 14-16, on any screen (desktop, mobile and living room).
Catch performances from global superstars and the hottest rising talent in the world, including headliners Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and Radiohead, as well as Bon Iver, Future, Gucci Mane, Lorde, New Order, ScHoolboy Q, The xx, Two Door Cinema Club and more.
You can choose from three always-on channels as well as a Live 360 Mode that will appear for select performances. Don’t miss any of the shows you’re most excited for by creating a personalized calendar that lets you track all your favorite performances. The livestream channels will automatically change to your favorite artists based on your selection. And if you turn on notifications for artists you subscribe to, you’ll get a note when they go live.
For the first time ever you’ll even get a sneak peek inside the famous underground dance music Yuma tent.
If you miss one of the big performances, we still have you covered with a video-on-demand hub that will showcase highlights and footage from performers throughout the weekend.
Stay tuned to find out more information about Coachella performances and be sure to subscribe to Coachella’s YouTube channel so you’re part of the action!
Ali Rivera, Head of Artist Partnerships, YouTube recently watched “Kendrick Lamar ‘Humble’” & Brian Anderson, Global Music Sponsorships, recently watched “Juan Atkins, Derrick May + Kevin Saunderson in Conversation.”
YouTube Go beta launches in India
In last September’s Google for India event we announced YouTube Go, our YouTube app reimagined for the next generation of YouTube users. Today, after months of expanded testing and refinement, we’re happy to announce that we’re making the beta version of YouTube Go available for download on the Google Play Store in India.
You’ll recall that every aspect of YouTube Go was designed from the ground up, with four main principles in mind: It’s relatable, with fresh and relevant video recommendations tailored to your preferences; the app is designed to be offline first and improve the experience of watching videos on a slower network; it gives you more control over data usage, by providing choice and transparency into the amount of data spent on streaming or saving videos. And finally, it’s social, allowing you to share videos quickly and easily with friends nearby.
Key features of YouTube Go include:
- A home built for you: YouTube Go home screen features trending and popular videos in your area, so that you can find and discover videos that you and your community care about.
- Preview videos before you save or watch: On YouTube Go we’ll show you a preview of the video when you tap on a thumbnail, giving you a better sense of what the video is about before you decide if you want to watch it.
- Choose your resolution when saving or streaming videos: You can choose to save a video for offline viewing later or stream it now. And we also allow you to choose the amount of data you’d like to spend on that video.
- Share videos with friends nearby: Share videos with friends and family nearby without using any data. You can send and receive videos instantly and offline with others using the YouTube Go app.
To get us to this point, we’ve worked hard on refining the features that you’ve inspired us to build, gaining new insights along the way. Some things we’ve learned in the run-up to this beta release include making the home screen fresher and more relevant for users, so they can find amazing videos easily. We’ve also worked hard behind the scenes to make sharing videos with nearby friends an even more seamless experience, and ensuring that the app works well across a wide range of phones and connectivity. While the app is in its beta release, we’ll continue to listen to your feedback and improve the app before launching more broadly. We’ll also be holding several activities in Udaipur over the upcoming weeks to glean more insights from users on the ground.
If you’re in India, we hope you download the beta from the Google Play Store today, and let us know what you think by leaving your feedback within the app. As before, if you’d like to find out when YouTube Go is fully ready, you can sign up at youtubego.com/signup.
With the rapid transformation sweeping India’s mobile internet landscape, we know there will be an even greater demand for a fast and accessible video app. Thank you for continually inspiring us to build better products for the next generation, and to helping us make YouTube Go the best video app for you.
Jay Akkad, Product Manager, YouTube, recently watched “Vidya Vox @ YouTube FanFest India 2017.”
YouTube TV is now live
We love TV. We love the shows, live sports, and can’t-miss events that drive our FOMO and need for #spoileralerts. But while what we watch on TV seems to get better every year, the way we watch TV never seems to change. How long do we have to wait until we can watch live TV on the go, on all our devices? When will we have DVRs big enough to handle all the things we want to record? And when will we be able to get the channels we care about, at a price we can afford, without all the commitments, equipment fees, and hassle?
The answer? Today.
Finally, live TV made for us. YouTube TV is here.
Today, we’re launching YouTube TV in the nation’s largest metro areas—New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Philadelphia—with more U.S. markets coming soon. A YouTube TV membership is only $ 35 a month, less than half the average cost of cable. And there are no commitments; you can cancel anytime.
We can’t wait for you to experience YouTube TV for yourself, so we’re giving you a free one month trial. We’ll also give you a complimentary Google Chromecast after your first month’s payment, while supplies last.
With a YouTube TV membership, you’ll get:
- Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports Networks, Comcast SportsNet and dozens more. YouTube TV gives you the best of live TV, from must-see shows like “Empire,” “The Voice,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Scandal,” to the live sports you want from the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NCAA. Based on where you live, you’ll get your local broadcast TV stations covering local sports and news. You’ll also get dozens of popular cable channels, including FX, USA, Disney Channel, Bravo, MSNBC, Fox News. And you can add Showtime or Fox Soccer Plus for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV will give you more than 50 networks, listed below.
- A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without ever running out of storage. You can keep each of your recordings for nine months.
- TV when it matters, where it matters. You can watch YouTube TV on your phone, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV (we’ll be supporting even more connected TV devices later this year). And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever you want and wherever you go in the U.S.
- YouTube Red Originals. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right in the new YouTube TV app.
- Six accounts included. You can share your YouTube TV membership with your family and roommates, and each account will receive its own unique recommendations and cloud DVR with no storage limits. Your household can watch up to three streams at a time.
- More networks coming soon. We’re excited to announce that AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, WE tv, and BBC World News will be included soon at no additional charge. These networks will join Telemundo and others listed below as networks coming to YouTube TV soon after launch. This means you’ll be able to watch shows like “The Walking Dead,” “Doctor Who,” and your favorite telenovelas. And you’ll also be able to add Sundance Now or Shudder for an additional charge.
To get started, check out tv.youtube.com today to start your free trial. You can also sign up on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. If you’re not in one of the initial launch markets but want to find out when YouTube TV is coming to your area, you can sign up here.
Happy watching!
While on the go, Andrew Jeon, Head Engineer for YouTube TV, recently used YouTube TV to watch UNC take on Gonzaga in the NCAA March Madness championship game, live on CBS.
Missouri Star Quilt Company: Our YouTube Story
In 2009, my new quilting business was struggling to get off the ground. The recession had hit my family and my town of Hamilton, Mo., pretty hard and I had started Missouri Star Quilt Company as a way to earn retirement money while doing something I loved. But like almost every small business at the time, Missouri Star wasn’t setting the world on fire. To help get the word out, my son Al suggested we film some tutorials and post them to YouTube.
“Sure,” I told him. “What’s a tutorial?”
Back then, I had never even visited YouTube, but I decided to try it out. I set up my sewing machine in a corner of the shop and Al began to shoot our first video on a handheld camera. We didn’t even bother to close the shop because foot traffic was so slow. Those first videos didn’t always look super spiffy, but I think people appreciated that I was making a hobby that sometimes feels intimidating to learn, more approachable.
Week by week, we filmed new tutorials and though it took a little while, we started seeing our views and subscriber numbers go up. First we hit 1,000 subscribers, then 10,000 subscribers. And while our online following was growing, we started getting some new visitors in real life, too. People were popping into our store from as far away as Texas, Virginia and Mexico telling me how they’d seen our videos on YouTube and wanted to visit me in person. We couldn’t just film the videos during store hours anymore; the foot traffic had picked up! And it was coming from everywhere.
By 2012, we had over 25,000 subscribers and we were regularly getting visitors to Missouri Star from around the world. Our sales were growing quickly and we decided to use the money we were earning to help invest in our community. One by one, I had seen businesses in Hamilton pack up and leave as the recession got worse and I wanted to change that trend. We decided to buy up a few of those boarded-up buildings to give our visitors an even richer experience.
We opened a store for Civil War-era prints, a store for modern quilt fabric, a store for novelty patterns and still we kept growing. Today, Hamilton is the Disneyland of quilting. We have 12 quilting stores operating in Hamilton and we get busloads of visitors coming to our small town almost every week. We didn’t just stop at quilting, either. We’ve partnered with talented chefs, cooks and bakers in our community to help them open their own business. In small town of 1,800, Missouri Star Quilt now employs over 400 people.
I remember having a dance party with my family when we sold seven orders in one day. Now we ship as many as 5,000 orders a day. Missouri Star Quilt Company has grown from one woman with a quilting machine to the largest seller of pre-cut quilting fabric in the world and the biggest employer in our county.
None of that could have been possible without YouTube. Our channel allowed us to turn our small business into a global business. We now have over 350,000 subscribers on YouTube, from countries throughout the world.
But as great as all those numbers are, the thing that makes me happiest is what I did in that very first video: teach someone how to quilt. I’ve been lucky to find something I truly love to do and I’m so happy YouTube has given me the opportunity to share that passion with others. It’s meant the world to my small business, to my community and to me.
–Jenny Doan
Enjoy your personal concert with VR videos on YouTube
Any music fan will tell you, there’s nothing better than seeing your favorite band live. But if you’re one of the millions of people who can’t make it to a show, YouTube is giving you the next best thing. We’re working with some amazing artists to bring you live performances and music videos in VR.
And today Gorillaz – hailed by “The Guinness Book Of World Records” as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act – have announced their return with the release of a new video directed by Jamie Hewlett, featuring four tracks from their highly anticipated forthcoming album “Humanz.” The epic six-minute animated film – titled “Saturnz Barz (Spirit House)” – provides an extraordinary cutting-edge VR experience to include the track “Saturnz Barz” in full, plus highlights of “Ascension,” “Andromeda” and “We Got The Power.” You can check it out here fresh from the oven.
With these new immersive experiences, you can transport yourself to top music festivals and killer concerts, without having to deal with the crowds. This weekend, you can check out Ultra Music Festival live, with a set from Hardwell live streaming in 360 degrees. And you can already experience highlights from Coachella on YouTube, without having to bear the heat of the desert.
We’ve also been working with some of your favorite artists to experiment with new ways to tell the story behind their songs and allow you to be immersed in the video. Sit next to Sampha on the piano bench while he performs “(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano.” Step into Hunter Hayes’ recording studio as he builds each musical component of his current single, “Yesterday’s Song.” Check out Young The Giant’s latest single, “Silvertongue,” as though you were in the audience. Watch The Naked & Famous official music video for “Higher” shot at the YouTube Space LA. And you can use VR to travel behind the scenes, too. Check out Florida Georgia Line as they shoot “May We All” at the Tennessee National Raceway in Hohenwald.
You can watch these videos using the YouTube VR app available on Daydream or with Google Cardboard. If you don’t have a headset, don’t worry, you can still get the 360-degree video experience on your mobile phone or desktop. It’ll be like you’re virtually there with your favorite band.
Vivien Lewit, Global Head Artist Relations, recently watched “The Range – Florida (Official 360° Video).”
YouTube goes to the movies
The Oscars are just days away—which means movie fans are locking in their predictions, nominees are putting the finishing touches on their red-carpet looks, and we’re ready to name the most popular movie trailer on YouTube.
May we have the envelope, please …
Our special-edition YouTube Movie Trailers Leaderboard ranks the top performing Best Picture nominee trailers, including both studio channels and popular aggregators. This year, the nine trailers are all blockbusters, racking up 3M hours of watch time.1 That’s the equivalent of about 25M viewings of the Oscar-nominated animated short, “Borrowed Time.”
The most popular trailer came right down to the wire. And the winner is … “La La Land,” which took home the #1 spot on our Leaderboard, followed closely by “Arrival” and “Hacksaw Ridge.”1 Head over to Think with Google to see how the other Best Picture nominees fared.
The movie space on YouTube
While the best picture nominees span a variety of genres, superhero trailers are the most viewed according to new research on the movie space on YouTube from third party researcher Pixability. Superhero trailers have the highest average number of views per video,2 and superhero, animated, and science fiction trailers make up 74 of the top 100 most viewed trailers.2
Pixability also found that while trailers are the most popular type of movie content on YouTube,2 songs (both official clips and covers by fans) are actually the most engaging type of movie content.3 Movie musicals like “La La Land” are certainly having their day in the sun—and YouTube viewers are singing right along.
Case in point: “La La Land” is running away with the competition for YouTube views among the nominees for Best Original Score, with over 1 billion views of its music, both in clips of the movie and covers by fans.4
Google News Lab looked at trailer trends from another angle entirely: geography. Think you can guess which movie trailers were most popular on the coasts? West Texas? The Pacific Northwest? Take a look.
Before the winner is crowned on Sunday, pop some popcorn and don’t forget to take a spin through all the top Best Picture trailers over at Think with Google.
Meredith Argeris, YouTube Marketing, recently watched “La La Land (2016 Movie) Official Trailer – ‘Dreamers’.”
Sources
1 The YouTube Movie Trailers Leaderboard includes views on videos from some of the most popular trailer aggregators as part of our count. Ranking is determined by an algorithm that factors in paid views, organic views, and audience retention (how much of a video people watched) through 2/13/17. Trailers must be for movies nominated for Best Picture and included the top performing trailer for each nominee. YouTube global data, 1/1/16-2/13/17.
2 Pixability, “Movies on YouTube,” February 2017. “Most popular” is based on number of videos and views.
3 Pixability, “Movies on YouTube,” February 2017. “Most engaging” is based on total likes, comments, and shares. Songs refers to music and lyric videos of either full movie soundtracks or songs attributed to a top movie.
4 YouTube data, 1/1/16–2/1/17.
You’re watching 1 billion hours of video on YouTube daily
A huge milestone for YouTube was just revealed. If you’re like any of us at Talk Android, you watch a lot of video on YouTube throughout the week. Millions of other people do as well. So it’s not surprising to find out that 1 billion hours of video are being watched on the service every […]
Come comment on this article: You’re watching 1 billion hours of video on YouTube daily
A conversation with Manny Gutierrez, the trailblazer and YouTube makeup maven
Growing up in a traditional Mormon household in San Diego, Calif., Manny Gutierrez was not always the glamazon and social media maven his fans (aka Mannyacs) know today. At 25 years old, he is now Maybelline’s first male ambassador and has over 2 million subscribers to his YouTube channel but that’s only part of his story. We spoke to Manny about his decision to not go to medical school, being a trailblazer … and of course, the celeb he’d most love to glam:
Q: How did you initially get your start on YouTube?
Manny: I started on YouTube because my followers on Instagram were asking for it! I was like, wait, you want me to make longer videos than the ones on Instagram? So when I hit 50K followers on Instagram, I started my channel.
Q: You were planning to go to medical school but decided to pursue makeup artistry full-time … was that a scary decision to make?
Manny: YES, that was an extremely scary decision to make. Whatever I did I wanted to be the best at it and be successful, and I thought I needed to go to med school and be a doctor to be successful … so once I decided to stop pursuing that dream and plunged into makeup, it was like jumping into a black hole. I had no idea what to expect but luckily I was met with open and caring arms in the beauty community.
Q: Your coming-out story has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube! What do you hope others take from your story whether they are struggling with something similar or not?
Manny: I think that what people can take from my story is that I haven’t always had it “easy.” I still don’t! I struggled when I was younger finding who I was, and it wasn’t until much later on that I became comfortable in my own skin. I wanted to convey the message that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you; what matters is how you view yourself.
Q: It’s not easy to be a trailblazer and break stereotypes … we even saw your dad come to your defense recently with someone trolling you. Was there ever a time when you questioned whether being a trailblazer was worth it? What got you through?
Manny: Honestly, I never really thought of myself as a trailblazer. I just thought, hey, I’m doing what I’m doing ‘cause I love it and I have some awesome supporters … until recently it’s blown up so much I’m actually like, whoa … maybe I really am helping pave the way for other boys in the beauty world or breaking down gender norms in general. I have never thought of stopping or quitting. I am a go-getter, and once I find something I love, I am going to see it through to its fullest potential and I won’t let anyone stand in the way of that.
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| Courtesy: MannyMUA733 (Instagram) |
Q: What has been the value of YouTube for you?
Manny: The value is indescribable, to be honest. I have no words. I can support myself and my family and reach millions of people and touch their lives DAILY! There really are no words, the value is immeasurable.
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| Courtesy: MannyMUA733 (Instagram) |
Q: Who is your ultimate beauty icon?
Manny: My mother is my ultimate beauty icon.
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Manny and his mom Courtesy: MannyMUA733 (Instagram) |
Q: If you could do any celebrity’s makeup, who would it be and why?
Manny: Honestly, it would probably be Lady Gaga … ’cause I want to meet her SO BAD!
Q: Do people still recognize you when you aren’t glammed up?
Manny: ALL THE TIME, and I love it! Makeup is what I love and what I do, but it’s not ALL of me. I don’t mind not being glam at all! I love my skin in and out of glam.
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| Courtesy: MannyMUA733 (Instagram) |
Tune in and turn it up: Watch the BRITs feat. Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Skepta and Little Mix LIVE on YouTube
What do Madonna, Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams have in common? They all made a scene (and global headlines) at the BRITs. The BRIT Awards with MasterCard has given us some of the most memorable moments in music history. Scrap that, in pop culture history. So it is with some joy that we are able to bring you all of this year’s action LIVE on YouTube. For the fourth year running, you can watch the full show live in fabulous, star-studded, rock ’n’ rolling glory if you’re based outside of Great Britain (and if you’re based in GB, catch up on performances after the show). Just tune in at youtube.com/Brits on whatever screen you find yourself closest to: mobile, tablet or TV.
Famous YouTube funnyman Caspar Lee will bring you top gossip from the event on the official BRITs channel. And just who might Caspar be rubbing shoulders with? ROYALTY. Pop royalty, that’s who. This year’s bill is topped by Brit legends and international superstars and includes performances from Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sandé, Little Mix, The 1975 and U.K. sensation Skepta. And given it’s the BRITs, you just know there’s going to be a whole lot more magic beyond the awards and performances themselves.
As Geoff Taylor, Chief Exec of The BPI and BRIT Awards says: “It’s really exciting for us that so many people around the world will get the chance to celebrate the U.K.’s biggest night in music live as it happens.” Well said, Geoff, couldn’t agree more.
After the live show, you’ll find performances from the artists on their own YouTube channels for you to relive again and again, plus there will be catch-up content on the BRITs channel itself. So, tune in to the official BRITs channel on February 22 at 2.30 p.m. ET and enjoy yourselves a Britpop bonanza.
Azi Eftekhari, Head of Music Partnerships at YouTube in EMEA, just relived Pharell’s impersonation of Skepta (“You Get Me?) on BBC Radio 1.
YouTube Kids turns 2 and there’s lots to celebrate!
Since launching two years ago, YouTube Kids has grown up a lot and become a go-to destination for families around the world. With over 30 billion views in the app to date and over 8 million active viewers enjoying the app each week, it’s been exciting to see kids fall in love with the storytelling and videos from our amazing global creators. From DIY tutorials and language learning to science experiments, magic tricks and animated shows, there truly is something for every family to explore!
Our Original Content team under Susanne Daniels is adding four new Original series to YouTube Red, created especially with the YouTube Kids app in mind. These new series will feature top creators: DanTDM , Joe and Cody of TheAtlanticCraft, popular tween music act L2M, and Fruit Ninja. This marks the first time YouTube Red has invested in creators who are producing original programming for family audiences. These series will debut starting in the spring. Additional shows are in development and will premiere throughout 2017.
The first of the new original series launching starting this spring include:
- Hyperlinked: This series is inspired by a true story and stars music sensation L2M. It follows five girls as they come together to create their own website by girls for girls. They also must navigate everyday tween issues involving friends and relationships.
- DanTDM Creates A Big Scene: Catch DanTDM and his lively group of animated friends as they battle mayhem and misadventure to keep their brand new live show on the road. Each episode follows their behind-the-scenes exploits as they learn new skills, overcome challenges and find that putting on an epic show isn’t quite as easy as it looks. …
- The Kings of Atlantis: “The Kings of Atlantis” is an epic animated series that follows two young monarchs —Cody and Joe— in the vast underwater city of Atlantis as they seek to overthrow the brutal usurper of their kingdom, reclaim their birthright, and protect their people from his cruel reign.
- Fruit Ninja: Frenzy Force: Four Fruit Ninjas set up a juice stand as a front for the messiest secret service in the world. The new Fruit Ninja characters—Seb, Niya, Peng and Ralph—come together to fight the evil forces of Durian Grey and the Deep Fried Samurai. They will use their Juice Jitsu skills (and perhaps some help from their own samurai) to prevail.
But the fun doesn’t stop there … YouTube Kids is coming soon to Smart TVs. Parents and kids often enjoy watching their favorite family programming on a big screen, so it’s a natural next step for the app to be available directly from the big screen in your home! The YouTube Kids app will be available soon for download on a number of internet-connected LG and Samsung Smart TVs.
As kids continue to grow up, we’re excited to grow up with them. It’s important that kids are able to explore what they love in the app, while we also continue to put parents in the driver’s seat to choose what is right for their family.
From engaging new shows to being able to watch in your living room, our 2nd birthday is shaping up to be a memorable one. We’re looking forward to all the other new things 2017 will bring. From our screen to yours. …
Malik Ducard, YouTube’s Global Head of Family and Learning, recently watched “A Pep Talk from Kid President.”
Overtime? Game Day ads are still in play on YouTube
The confetti has hit the field. We all went Gaga. The Pats have come out victorious.
While you may not have seen that coming, we’ve seen our highest ever watch time during the game, with more than 350K hours spent watching Big Game ads, marking over 15 percent year-over year-growth. If your Game Day party was anything like ours, mobile also played a huge role – 70 percent of this watch time came from mobile devices. And this is just the beginning.
Historically, the day after the Big Game kicks off several weeks of watching and re-watching Big Game ads, so make sure you check out the tenth anniversary of the YouTube AdBlitz channel and vote for your favorite by February 10 at midnight ET.
We’re already starting to see some early favorites. Some with a fresh take on iconic characters, others that introduced new heroes. But the undeniable theme of the night was ads that connected to social and political topics — in fact, these ads accounted for nearly half of the watch time on Game Day.
Here are the top ten ads so far (based on Game Day views as of 2/6 at 2 a.m. ET):
- Budweiser – Budweiser 2017 Super Bowl Commercial | “Born The Hard Way”
- Bud Light – Ghost Spuds | Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial 2017 feat. Spuds MacKenzie
- Hyundai – A Better Super Bowl | NFL Hyundai Super Bowl LI
- Kia – 2017 Kia Niro | “Hero’s Journey” Starring Melissa McCarthy
- T-Mobile – T-Mobile | #UnlimitedMoves with Justin Bieber | T-Mobile Commercial
- Tide – Tide | Super Bowl Commercial 2017 with Terry Bradshaw
- 84 Lumber – 84 Lumber Super Bowl Commercial – The Entire Journey
- Netflix – “Stranger Things 2” – Super Bowl 2017 Ad
- Audi – Audi #DriveProgress Big Game Commercial – “Daughter”
- Mr. Clean – Mr. Clean | New Super Bowl Ad | Cleaner of Your Dreams
Interest in commercials didn’t stop at YouTube either. Of the top trending Google Search questions during the game, three were about the ads:
- How old is Lady Gaga?
- How does overtime work in NFL?
- Who owns Alfa Romeo?
- What is 84 Lumber?
- How many “Pirates of the Caribbean” are there?
The Big Game may have been called, but the battle for top ad is still in play. Check back next week to find out this year’s winner of YouTube AdBlitz!
Deborah Powsner, YouTube Ads Marketing, recently watched “Patriots vs. Falcons | Super Bowl LI Game Highlights.”
How one family used YouTube to build a home and rebuild their lives
In December 2007, Cara Brookins was a 36-year-old computer programmer working full- time and taking care of her four young kids (ages 2, 11, 15, 17). From the outside, she looked like any other mom but personally she had just closed the door on an unsafe marriage and was preparing to rebuild her life.
After buying an acre of land in Bryant, Ark. and taking out a $ 150k loan, Cara and her four kids did something amazing … they rolled up their sleeves and started building their own home with the help of YouTube videos. The videos they watched on YouTube equipped them with the information they needed to make their big dream a reality. They watched videos to learn everything from how to build a solid foundation and construct countertops to even how to do their own plumbing. By September 2008–after nine months of working 20-hour days–Cara and her kids had finished their dream home. We spoke with Cara about finding hope, the power of YouTube, and why she chose to share her story:
Q: Take us back to the moment you decided to build your own house … what sparked the idea initially?
Cara: I had left a domestic violence situation with my four kids and we were really emotionally destroyed. All the advice I found for improving my life talked about baby steps and small goals. I couldn’t see how just resolving to get dressed in the morning was going to get me anywhere. We needed a safe place to live, and I was determined to do something big. So building a house felt like the most natural solution in the world.
Q: Why did you turn to YouTube?
Cara: We had always had a DIY mindset and we’d used YouTube to make our own jewelry and art projects. So we instantly focused on YouTube as the place to also learn how to set a foundation block or how to frame a window. I also researched energy efficient building ideas on YouTube. YouTube was really our go-to destination for the information we needed throughout the process.
Q: How did your family react when you told them what you were planning to do?
Cara: My parents thought I was absolutely nuts. They tried to talk me out of it and that shocked me. It seemed like such an obvious and perfect solution. Of course once they saw I was going to build it anyhow—yes, they already knew I was a very stubborn girl—they supported me in every way, even showing up on the job site to work.
Q: How did you and your family use YouTube throughout the process?
Cara: We used multiple videos for each project to learn multiple ways to do each thing, like frame a window or run a sewer line. And we tried to understand why each thing was done a certain way rather than just how to do it. Because we were watching at home on a computer (no smartphones!) and would have to remember everything to make it work the next day on the job site.
Q: Was there ever a point where you looked at the construction around you and thought “what have I gotten myself into?!”
Cara: From the day we broke ground, I thought this every single day until we moved in! It was an overwhelming number of decisions and amount of work. But I was the only adult to pull all the kids together and I had to play it confident and cool the whole time. I had to make the decisions and plans and then be the cheerleader. It was emotionally exhausting, but of course incredibly rewarding too.
Q: For anyone out there who may want to learn how to do something but doesn’t know where to start or thinks they can’t do it, what would you tell them?
Cara: Never stop with the phrase, “I don’t know how to do that.” Always add, “YET!” There are no limits to what you can accomplish if you truly want it. And of course that’s because if you want it badly enough you’ll put in a solid effort and endless hours of hard work. Approach each project with steady determination. I was a small computer programmer and an author. If I can build a house with my kids, there is no limit to what other people might accomplish.
Q: Why did you decide to write a book about your journey and what do you hope people take from reading it?
Cara: I never intended to write a book about the house when we were building it. I was pretty ashamed that my decisions had put us in this place, where our sanest option was to build our own shelter. Fiction writing was my big focus at the time. But after we finished, I knew I had to tell our story, not because I wanted other people to look at what we’d done but because I wanted them to imagine the big things they could build with their life. It took me six years to figure out how to write the book in the right away. I had dozens of versions before “Rise” sold. Even then there was a big fear over how people would react and what they would focus on in the story. It’s such a vulnerable time of our lives to share. But we’ve had so much support from across the entire world, and best of all the message people are receiving is that they really can do anything they dream of if they put in enough hard work.
Q: How did this experience impact your kids and your family?
Cara: My kids were so weak and small when we started this project. All our energy went toward survival with no energy left for setting goals or dreaming of a big future. After we built the house we each came away with the sense that absolutely anything was possible. Our dreams are ridiculous, crazy things and we don’t doubt for one second that we’ll achieve them.
Celebrating ten years of Big Game ads on YouTube
Every year, a few Big Game ads stand out from the pack and keep us smiling long after the last play … like your daughter’s first date, that time Liam Neeson wanted revenge, or the year we met whatever this is.
Today, we’re kicking off YouTube AdBlitz for the tenth time, a destination where you can come watch and vote for all your favorite Big Game ads.
To continue to spotlight excellence as part of our AdBlitz program, we’ve made two key changes. First, in addition to our main list of AdBlitz winners, we’ll be recognizing top performers in individual categories, like automotive and food & beverage. Second, we’ve seen more and more traditional in-game advertisers choose to launch ads around the Big Game versus during the actual broadcast. This year, these spots will also be eligible to compete in AdBlitz.
In honor of AdBlitz’s ten-year anniversary, we’re also taking a look back at the top 20 Big Game ads from the past nine years that have stood the test of time. Collectively, these ads have racked up more than 440M minutes of watchtime along the way.
Of course as much as we love Big Game ads, they also represent just one slice of all the football-related content people watch on YouTube. Overall, watchtime for football-related content has grown over 90 percent year-over-year.1 Given this huge interest, it’s no surprise that the NFL’s YouTube channel, which they unveiled two years ago, just passed the 1 billion views mark, a huge achievement.
In looking at the ads that made our top 20 list, we noticed a few things.
The ad your ad could smell like: Iconic ads continue to thrive on YouTube long past their initial release. Some of the most memorable ads from previous years, like Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (2010), Ram Trucks’ “Farmer” (2013) and GoPro and Red Bull’s “Red Bull Stratos – The Full Story” (2014) collectively garnered over 5M views in 2016, years after their original airing. And combined, these ads have driven over 92.5M lifetime views.
Advertisers use the force … of uploading early. Advertisers that upload early do better overall. The share of Big Game ads released on YouTube before game day grew over 200 percent from 2008 to 2016, due to a combination of more advertisers releasing their television spots early on YouTube as well the growing popularity of teasers. Among YouTube’s Top 20 ranking, 90 percent of the ads listed were released on YouTube before the Super Bowl that year, including Volkswagen’s “The Force” and Budweiser’s “Puppy Love.”
Pokemon goes global: Just as the Big Game has become a global moment, so have the ads. Outside the U.S., Super Bowl ad viewership on YouTube has grown over 28x since 2008. In 2016, the three countries outside the U.S. that watched the most Super Bowl ads on YouTube are Canada, the United Kingdom and Russia. Some of the most popular Super Bowl ads internationally included: Pokemon’s “#Pokemon20: Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial,” Coca-Cola’s “Coke Mini (Hulk vs. Ant-Man),” and Heinz’s “Wiener Stampede – Extended Cut.”
Our full AdBlitz 10-Year Anniversary report is here along with the full list of the top 20 ads of the past nine years. We encourage you to take a look and come up with your own insights. And of course check back with AdBlitz before, during, and after the Big Game to see and vote for this year’s additions to the catalog of iconic Big Game ads.
Tara Walpert Levy, Vice President of Agency & Media Solutions, recently watched “NFL 2016: Part One” — A Bad Lip Reading of the NFL.”
1YouTube Data, U.S. Classification as American Football video was based on public data such as headlines, tags, etc., and may not account for every such video available on YouTube, January – November 2016.
Presidential Inauguration, live on YouTube
From conventions to debates to election day, millions of you came to YouTube over the past year to stay informed and engage in a conversation on the 2016 U.S. election.
The results are in and in one week President-elect Trump will take the oath of office. As in 2013, YouTube is live streaming inauguration coverage and this year you can tune into live streams from more news organizations than ever before.
Head to YouTube on Friday, January 20, and choose a news channel to follow the day-long events:
You’ll also be able to feel what it’s like to be in the center of the action – look out for special coverage from some of the channels above in 360 degrees and amazing 4K quality.
Stay up to speed on U.S. political news, including live coverage, by heading to youtube.com/news.
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched ”Presidential History.”
How to play YouTube videos in the background on iOS and Android
Playing YouTube videos in the background can be a real chore. Thankfully, apps such as Safari and Firefox — along with the premium offerings like YouTube Red — make it easy to do on your mobile device.
The post How to play YouTube videos in the background on iOS and Android appeared first on Digital Trends.
A billion reasons to celebrate music on YouTube
Last year was a bright one for music—after several tough years of declining revenues, the industry started growing again, spurred in large part by the growth of music streaming subscriptions. This year, the industry has even more reasons to be optimistic. Even as music subscriptions have been growing faster than any other subscription type, advertising is another powerful driver of revenue. In fact, in the last 12 months, YouTube has paid out over $ 1 billion to the music industry from advertising alone, demonstrating that multiple experiences and models are succeeding alongside each other.
And this is just the beginning. As more advertising dollars shift from TV, radio and print to online services, the music industry will generate even more revenue from ads. In the future, the music business has an opportunity to look a lot like television, where subscriptions and advertising contribute roughly equal amounts of revenue, bolstered by digital and physical sales. To achieve this, there is a lot of work that must be done by YouTube and the industry as a whole, but we are excited to see the momentum.
At a time when there’s never been more competition for attention, fans can’t get enough good music. It is clear that this creative industry has two strong engines of growth — subscriptions and advertising — and we are honored to be a part of it.
Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer, recently watched “The Hamilton Mixtape Performance Live Stream.”
Drumroll, please … the top YouTube ads of 2016
What do cultural relevance, empowerment and mobile all have in common? Each is a prominent theme throughout the 2016 Year-End YouTube Ads Leaderboard – our annual look at the most watched and engaging ads of the year globally. Once again, advertisers delivered spots that took us on a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from laughter to inspiration to “awwww…,” compelling viewers to both watch and share.
As we reflect on this year’s list, we see ads like Mountain Dew’s #puppymonkeybaby that added to the cultural conversation (because who doesn’t love puppies, monkeys and babies??), while spots from Always and Pokemon evoked a “can-do” spirit.
Mobile proved to be a key platform for viewers again this year. In fact, across the five Super Bowl ads on our Year-End Leaderboard, 81 percent of watch time came from mobile devices, with over 205 million combined mobile views.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, the top 10 ads of 2016 on YouTube:
- Official Mobile Strike Super Bowl 50 TV Commercial | Arnold’s Fight [EXTENDED Edition]
- Knorr #LoveAtFirstTaste
- Nike Football Presents: The Switch ft. Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Anthony Martial & More
- Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge: Official Introduction
- Clash Royale: Theme Song (Official TV Commercial)
- Mountainn Dew Kickstart: Puppymonkeybaby | Super Bowl Spot
- Always #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing
- The Chase – Hyundai Super Bowl Commercial | The 2017 Hyundai Elantra
- #Pokemon20: Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial
- Skittles: “The Portrait” w/ Steven Tyler. Super Bowl 50 Commercial
Meredith Argeris, YouTube Marketing, recently watched “John Lewis Christmas Advert 2016 – #BusterTheBoxer.”
More parental controls available in YouTube Kids starting today
Since we launched YouTube Kids less than two years ago, we’ve seen families across the globe download the app tens of millions of times and rank it consistently among the top 5 apps in the App Store and give it an overall 4+ ranking on Google Play.
Along the way, we’ve also received helpful feedback from parents on how we can make the app even better. Parents have told us they want more control over how their kids watch content in the YouTube Kids app. Today, we’re rolling out a new feature that continues to put parents in the driver’s seat so they can decide what content is right for their family.
Let’s say you don’t want your little one watching a DIY video that shows them how to make gooey slime, or maybe you want them to take a break from watching certain sing-a-long videos. Well, now you can block videos or channels from their experience by signing into the app.
Block videos using the 3 dot menu next to any video or channel
To sign in you will be asked to send yourself a parental consent email.
And the best part is that because you’re logged in, the videos and channels you block in YouTube Kids will remain consistent across all your devices. And as a parent, if you change your mind, you can unblock all restricted videos or channels at once. It’s that easy! This update will be available in: the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malaysia, Philippines, India, and Singapore.
This new feature follows other ways families can already customize their YouTube Kids experience:
- Learn how the app works: When parents open YouTube Kids, we explain upfront how our systems choose and recommend content and how to flag videos. We also prompt you to make a choice about how broadly you want your child to explore—turn search on to access millions of family-friendly videos, or turn search off to restrict your child’s experience to a more limited set.
- Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that lets you limit kids’ screen time. The app alerts your child when the session is over, so you don’t have to.
- YouTube Kids on the big screen: Watch YouTube Kids as a family on your big screen. Now YouTube Kids is available on your TV, using Chromecast, Apple TV, game consoles or a smartTV.
- Age-based customization: When you first open the app, you can select from three general age groups (preschool, school age or all kids) making the initial home screen reflect videos that may interest children in that age range.
Stay tuned for more to come and in the meantime happy viewing!
Balaji Srinivasan, father of two girls and YouTube Kids Senior Software Engineer, recently watched “Hexaflexagons.”
U.S. election results LIVE on YouTube
From candidates announcing their run for office to the political conventions, you’ve come to YouTube to get informed on the U.S. election.
In fact, over the past few weeks you spent over 20 million hours watching – and rewatching – the presidential debate live streams on YouTube. That’s the equivalent of over 2,288 years of time!
With just over a week until election day, all eyes are on the candidates as they work to earn your vote. As in 2012, YouTube is back live streaming election results coverage and this year, you can choose from more news organizations than ever before.
Head to YouTube starting at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 8, and select your favorite news channel to follow all the action:
Also, tune in to a special election night event at YouTube Space NY, where host Complex News will deliver live results coverage and celebrate the momentous occasion.
If you haven’t already sent in your ballot, head to Google, search “how to vote” and get all the info you need to make your voice heard.
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched ”U.S. Government & Politics”
Google and YouTube can help keep you informed on Election Day
Cross-posted from the Official Google Blog
It’s Election Day Eve, the day before before millions of people across the U.S. will head to the polls and cast votes for their elected officials. But before you get to the ballot box — and head out with that sticker! — check Google to get the information on where to vote and election results.
Starting when the polls close on Election Day, you will be able to find U.S. election results integrated right into your Google searches in over 30 languages around the world. You’ll also be able to see detailed updates and results of the Presidential, Senatorial, Congressional, Gubernatorial races as well as state-level referenda and ballot propositions.
For the past several months, Google has helped people find information about the democratic process: our search results have helped voters register and explained the voting process with information on how to vote, who’s on their ballot, and how to find their local polling place in both English and Spanish. Since releasing these in-depth search results, we’ve seen millions of people engage with these tools on Google — there’s even been a startling 233% increase in traffic for “how to vote” compared with 2012. In addition to “how to vote,” Americans are actively searching for “where to vote” — particularly in battleground states, as depicted in these county-by-county breakdowns:
Over the past few weeks viewers spent over 20 million hours watching – and rewatching – the presidential debate live streams on YouTube. Tomorrow, YouTube will be live streaming election results coverage from more news organizations than ever before. Starting at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 8, tune in to live coverage from NBC, PBS, MTV, Bloomberg, Telemundo and The Young Turks to keep up with all of the action as it happens. Complex News will also be delivering live coverage during a special election event from YouTube Space NY. And to close out YouTube’s #voteIRL campaign, creators and fans have been posting their #voteIRL selfie to mark that they’re going to vote. And tune in to some special voting reminder PSAs starring POTUS and some familiar-looking furry friends.
Whether you voted early, plan to head to the polls tomorrow, host an Election Night watch party, or live stream the victory speech from America’s new President-Elect, we’re here to help. From the ballot box to tomorrow’s late-night returns, we hope Google’s tools help guide you through Election Day in a simple, clear and informative way.
And one last thing: don’t forget to vote. It matters.
Posted by Shashi Thakur, VP Engineering, Google Search
YouTube VR: A whole new way to watch… and create
We’re inspired every day by the videos people share on YouTube. The idea that anybody, from any part of the globe, can create something that all of us can watch, laugh at, cry to, or relate to. Not only has this turned YouTube into a home for just about any idea imaginable, it’s made it the place where new video formats, new ways to connect, and new ways to tell stories are born.
We want to continue to provide you with new ways to engage with the world and with your community, and we believe virtual reality will play an important role in the future of storytelling. More than just an amazing new technology, VR allows us to make deep, human connections with people, places and stories. That’s why we’re committed to giving creators the space and resources they need to learn about, experiment with, and create virtual reality video. In fact, we’ve already started working with some awesome creators, recording artists, and partners who are producing VR videos across a wide variety of genres and interest areas on YouTube.
Want to spend some time with beauty vlogger Meredith Foster? Check out an immersive tour of her apartment. More of a foodie? Tastemade’s VR cooking videos breathe new life into learning new recipes. Rooster Teeth reimagines their gaming comedy “Red vs. Blue” for some fresh laughs. You can even watch breaking news in VR from HuffPost RYOT.
We’ve also been working to allow you to have experiences or visit places you might not be able to (or might not dare to!) in real life. Go swimming with sharks thanks to Curiscope, get a first-hand look at a living, breathing dinosaur at the Natural History Museum in London, travel to Belize with StyleHaul, hike a trail a thousand miles away with Daniel and Kelli at Fitness Blender, or watch Tritonal in concert no matter where you are.
And today you can experience all of this amazing content in a more immersive way with the brand new YouTube VR app, available first on Daydream. This new standalone app was built from the ground up and optimized for VR. You just need a Daydream-ready phone like Pixel and the new Daydream View headset and controller to get started. Every single video on the platform becomes an immersive VR experience, from 360-degree videos that let you step inside the content to standard videos shown on a virtual movie screen in the new theater mode. The app even includes some familiar features like voice search and a signed in experience so you can follow the channels you subscribe to, check out your playlists and more.
True colors: adding support for HDR videos on YouTube
We believe in the power of video at YouTube. It’s what allows for the creativity, connection, and fun that brings together our community of creators and viewers. And over the last 11 years, we’ve worked hard to push the boundaries of online video. We’ve added product features and made new video and audio formats available to everyone, from HD to 4K video, live streaming, 3D, 360-degree video, and spatial audio.
Today we are adding support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos on YouTube. HDR videos have higher contrast, revealing precise, detailed shadows and stunning highlights with more clarity than ever. Support for wide color gamut means colors are more vibrant. Simply put, HDR unlocks the most spectacular image quality we’ve ever streamed.
Starting today, you can watch YouTube videos in HDR on supported devices, such as HDR TVs with the new Chromecast Ultra, and soon on all 2016 Samsung SUHD and UHD TVs. If you’re using a device that doesn’t yet support HDR, don’t worry, videos will still play in standard dynamic range. As more HDR devices become available, YouTube will work with partners to enable streaming of the HDR version.
And if you want to watch some amazing content in HDR today, we got you covered. We’ve worked with YouTube creators like MysteryGuitarMan, Jacob + Katie Schwarz, and Abandon Visuals to bring you great content in HDR.
Starting today, any creator can upload HDR videos to YouTube. You can learn more about uploading HDR videos here. To make sure creators can tell awesome stories with even more color, we’ve been working with companies across the industry. We’ve worked with the DaVinci Resolve team to make uploading HDR just as simple as SDR videos to YouTube. We’ve also outfitted the YouTube Spaces in LA and NYC with all the gear needed to produce great HDR content.
HDR adds a whole new dimension of creative freedom and visual spectacle, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of what this means for storytelling. We can’t wait to see the amazing videos you’re going to make with HDR.
Steven Robertson, Software Engineer, recently watched “History of Japan,” and Sanjeev Verma, Product Manager, recently watched “Flaming Wire Wool.”
#YTMehrMusik: More music from artists you love on YouTube in Germany
Today is a big day for music in Germany. YouTube has reached a landmark agreement with the Germany-based music rights organization, GEMA, meaning that starting today, more music will be available on YouTube in Germany. This is a win for music artists around the world, enabling them to reach new and existing fans in Germany, while also earning money from the advertising on their videos. And for YouTube users in Germany, who will no longer see a blocking message on music content that contains GEMA repertoire, for the first time in seven years.
This agreement reflects a long-held commitment that composers, songwriters, and publishers should be paid fairly, while ensuring fans can enjoy their favorite songs and discover new music on YouTube. That commitment has helped YouTube evolve into an important source of promotion and revenue for musicians. As such, we continue to invest in our rights management system, Content ID, to protect rights owners while continuing to innovate and create new and exciting YouTube features such as VR and 360, that can heighten the music experience on YouTube even more.
From AnnenMayKantereit to Rolf Zuckowski, we heartily welcome German artists and songwriters from A-to-Z to YouTube. And to our YouTube community, enjoy the music!
Christophe Muller, YouTube’s Head of International Music Partnerships, recently watched “Best Friends Challenge with Justin Timberlake.”
The Clash Royale King’s Cup, live on YouTube Gaming
Sound the horns! The King has declared a tournament to host the most skilled Clash Royale players in the land. Who among you can beat his champions and take the King’s Cup?
We are proud to present the King’s Cup Live on YouTube Gaming, a first-of-its-kind major tournament event featuring the second largest mobile title on YouTube this year, Clash Royale. The tournament will take place on Sunday, November 6, live in Los Angeles with a prize pool of $ 100,000.
Competitors from all over the world will attend this open event to qualify to play against eight of the top Clash Royale creators from YouTube. Come sharpen your swords and ride your hogs and take down our legendary Clash Royale creators:
Can’t battle? No worries! Watch the tournament live exclusively on YouTube Gaming and YouTube. There’ll be awesome gameplay, fun interviews, and even opportunities to win prizes. Running alongside the tournament will be a limited time, in-game “King’s Cup Special Event Challenge” where players can join for free and play with cards they haven’t yet unlocked! This special event will be available on iOS and Android between Friday, November 4, and Sunday, November 6.
Join along with our commentary team for this Royale event in coordination with YouTube, Google Play and Supercell at https://gaming.youtube.com/kingscup or https://www.youtube.com/clashroyale.
Lester Chen, Head of eSports Content & Partnerships, recently watched the “2016 League of Legends World Championships.”
Bringing the StoryCorps experience to video through YouTube Creators for Change
Diversity is our nation’s strength, yet in America today, we are seeing new levels of fear and misunderstanding. It’s never been more important to sit down and listen to each other — hear each other’s stories, learn about what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes, and remember what makes us unique and what we all have in common.
That’s why we launched our YouTube Creators for Change program back in September, an initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of YouTube role models who are tackling division and hate by creating videos that share stories of hope, connection and understanding. Today we’re introducing our latest initiative in this program: a new partnership with StoryCorps, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording and archiving oral stories from all Americans.
Through this new collaboration, we’re teaming up with StoryCorps to help start a national conversation about identity and belonging in America, beginning with a production program at the YouTube Spaces in L.A. and N.Y. in December. At these Spaces, we will create custom-built sets that look and feel like the iconic StoryCorps recording booths where participating creators will help extend StoryCorps recordings to video. These creators will be able to come in with a friend, loved one or person they respect to talk about their experiences in our country as it stands today – both the good and bad.
As part of YouTube Creators for Change, we’re also proud to support the StoryCorps’ campaign #WhoWeAre, created in partnership with Upworthy. The #WhoWeAre series features animated stories of everyday Americans selected from the StoryCorps archive that help us remember our best selves.
We hope these conversations will inspire people around the country to reflect and share their own personal stories about who they are and who they want to be. We’re thrilled to be working with StoryCorps on bringing their approach to listening and recognizing our shared humanity to video, and can’t wait to share more on our work together in the coming months.
Juniper Downs, Head of Public Policy for YouTube, recently watched #WhoWeAre.
Tune in to the final presidential debate, live on YouTube
With just 21 days remaining, the U.S. presidential election is top of mind for voters across the country.
Over the past three debates you’ve come to YouTube to follow live coverage from more news organizations than ever before. And Wednesday’s third and final presidential debate will be no exception.
Pick your favorite news channel and tune in to the debate starting at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 19. Here is where you can watch live on YouTube:
You can also join The Young Turks and Complex News on the ground reporting from Las Vegas, Nev., using YouTube Live directly from their phones.
Can’t decide on one stream? Check out youtube.com/news to follow all of the coverage.
And if the voter registration deadline in your state hasn’t passed, register today! It only takes 1 min., 34 seconds.
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched “How Voters Decide.”
Introducing YouTube Creators for Change
Video affects us like no other medium. It can heighten our passions, stoke our fears, awaken us to new experiences and make our hearts ache. It can educate, build understanding and even change the way we see our world. In fact, over half of our millennial subscribers have said a YouTube creator has changed their life.
At a time when the internet is criticized for fueling division and distrust, we want to help demonstrate the incredible power YouTube has to generate a positive social impact. That’s why today, we’re introducing a new global program called YouTube Creators for Change, as well as new resources and grants dedicated to social change work.
YouTube Creators for Change is a new initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of role models who are tackling difficult social issues with their channels. From combating hate speech, to countering xenophobia and extremism, to simply making the case for greater tolerance and empathy toward others, these creators are helping generate positive social change with their global fan bases.
Our first six Creators for Change ambassadors are Natalie Tran (Australia), Abdel en Vrai (Belgium), Nilam Farooq (Germany), Omar Hussein (Saudi Arabia), Barış Özcan (Turkey), and Humza Arshad (United Kingdom).
We’ll be introducing other ambassadors soon, and we will be sharing their stories — starting with Humza Arshad whose “Diary of a Badman” series is helping redefine what it means to be a young Muslim today in the U.K. Since video is such a powerful form of expression, watch and learn more about how Humza is using comedy to create change:
Over the next year, program ambassadors will drive greater awareness of social issues and foster productive dialogue around these topics through the videos they create. They’ll also help identify and empower emerging creators who also want to speak out on these crucial topics. To support and amplify ambassadors and emerging creators alike, we are committing $ 1M in equipment and production grants as part of the Creators for Change program. We’ll also welcome these creators at new programs at YouTube Spaces throughout the year, so stay tuned for more details soon.
Our efforts don’t stop here — we’ll also continue working with NGOs, schools, and media companies around the world to launch more local programs as part of Creators for Change. We recently introduced a program in France that brought together more than 700 participants who created 140 videos under the theme of fraternité. In Germany, YouTube creators joined forces under #NichtEgal, a movement dedicated to unite Germans in countering online hate.
We’re also pleased to announce that Google.org, our philanthropic arm, is establishing a $ 2M charitable fund to support nonprofits working on innovative solutions that promote inclusion and cross-cultural understanding.
We hope these new programs and resources will continue making YouTube a place where anyone can have a voice and where anyone can use the power of video to help generate positive social change.
Juniper Downs, Head of YouTube Public Policy, recently watched “Web Rangers – ORT Sajur 2016.”
Celebrate Minecon on YouTube
I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Transformers.” Now when I spend time with my nephew and niece, we watch Minecraft videos, the new version of Saturday morning cartoons. Minecraft can be both educational and entertaining to people of all ages — players create their own worlds whenever and wherever they want. Minecraft is a huge phenomenon on YouTube with rich content, an engaged community and 130M+ videos.
Minecon, an annual event dedicated to all things Minecraft, is happening on September 24 and 25 in Anaheim, Calif. For Minecrafters who can’t attend, we are bringing Minecon to you by launching a Minecon 2016 event page on YouTube Gaming. You’ll be able to keep up with videos from your favorite creators and the latest Minecon announcements as they are happening.
Minecraft gamers have been incorporating 360-degree video and VR into their content, and one of my favorite examples of this is the “Wonder Quest” series, which just released a new episode called “Spot the Differences.” Fans can expect more VR in upcoming episodes with a rollercoaster ride through highlights from season two, a 360-degree look into Stampy’s dreams, a scary Halloween-themed tale and much more.
We are also excited to announce support for 360-degree live streaming of Minecraft videos, which will come from the developer CrushedPixel. CrushedPixel first blew our minds with his Replay Mod, which allows you to record Minecraft videos in 360 degrees. His new upcoming mod will take it a step further with the capability to live stream Minecraft videos in 360 degrees! CrushedPixel will be joining YouTube creator and star StacyPlays on stage at Minecon for a special 360 panel to discuss both her Bookcraft series as well as his work with the 360 mods.
Together, we’ve built a new virtual world and a strong and open community on YouTube. We’re excited to celebrate Minecon with you this year.
Posted by Ryan Wyatt, Global Head of Gaming Content, recently watched “Wonder Quest 360 Video – Spot the Difference” with my nephew.
Watch tonight’s presidential debate live stream on YouTube — and don’t forget to #voteIRL
With 42 days remaining, voters across the U.S. are gearing up for this year’s presidential election — and tonight they’ll be able to watch the first presidential debate live on YouTube!
We announced last week that more news organizations than ever before are live streaming this major political event on YouTube. Have your choice and tune-in to your favorite news channel starting at 9:00 p.m. ET tonight. Here is where you can watch live on YouTube:
Can’t decide on one stream? Check out youtube.com/news to follow all of the live coverage.
You can also join The Young Turks and Complex News on the ground reporting from the debate using YouTube Live directly from their phones.
And don’t forget, tomorrow is National Voter Registration day and YouTube creators want you to head to the polls and #voteIRL. Tune in to this playlist to see how you can register to vote in the amount of time it takes Ryan Seacrest to host a radio show or The Fung Bros to shoot hoops. Surprising fact: it only takes one minute and 34 seconds!
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched “How to Vote in Every State.”
Tune into the second presidential debate, live on YouTube
As U.S. voters prepare to head to the polls in just over a month, all eyes are on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as they debate for a second time — and like the last two debates, you can head to YouTube to watch the candidates take the stage.
Just choose a news channel on YouTube and join us live from St. Louis, Mo., on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET:
Stay up to speed on U.S. election news, including live coverage, by heading to youtube.com/news. And if you haven’t already, register to vote. It only takes 1 min, 34 seconds!
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched “The Vice-Presidential Debate.”
Google Home includes 6 months of YouTube Red, gives music lovers the best in-home music experience from YouTube
YouTube is where music lovers dig deep for music videos, live performances, and new songs that move them. YouTube Red makes music on YouTube even better, letting you play songs ad free, in the background, offline, and more.
Now with YouTube Red and Google Home, you can fill your home with more songs, more versions, and more dance parties. Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant, is available for pre-order today. And it comes with a free 6-month YouTube Red membership, making it the best way to listen to music from YouTube at home.
Access a nearly endless catalog of music from YouTube just by using your voice. All you have to do is speak the name of a song, artist, or genre you want to hear and Google Home will play it. Want to get the party started? Just say “Ok Google, play a song by The Weeknd.” On top of that, playing any song starts a never-ending mix that taps into exactly what you’re in the mood for. Need something to listen to while you’re cooking dinner? Just say “Ok Google, play some chill music.”
In addition to being able to access all of YouTube’s music on Google Home, with YouTube Red you’ll be able to enjoy ad-free videos and more, almost anywhere you’re signed in to YouTube. You’ll also get access to all-new original movies and series from top creators made specifically for YouTube Red members.
Pre-order your Google Home with 6 free months of YouTube Red today. This offer’s only available for a limited time (for new members only), and we’d hate for you to miss out.
Sarah Ali, YouTube Living Room Group Product Lead, recently watched “Alicia Keys – In Common.”
Matthew Leske, YouTube Red Group Product Lead, recently watched “Kygo – Firestone ft. Conrad Sewell.”
Watch tonight’s vice presidential debate, live on YouTube
After last week’s record-breaking presidential debate, Americans are gearing up to hear from the vice presidential nominees in the only debate where they’ll face off — and you’ll be able to follow all the action live on YouTube!
Whether you’re watching from your smartphone or your smart TV, head to YouTube tonight at 9 p.m. ET and choose your favorite news channel, which will bring you live coverage from Farmville, Va.:
As always, check out youtube.com/news to follow all of the live coverage. See you tonight, and from the upcoming presidential debates in St. Louis, Mo., and Las Vegas, Nev.
Brandon Feldman, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched “The First Presidential Debate.”