During a convention in the United States, YouTube’s top executives unveil their new strategy in the field of video streaming. Here’s what’s changing
While in a few days all eyes will be on the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, where Google I/O 2019 will be staged, in the past few days producers and film makers had their sights set on Brandcast, an event organized on the occasion of the IAB Digital Content Newfronts, where YouTube poured over some numbers and news regarding its services.
The Google-owned video streaming giant announced, for example, that it has broken through the threshold of 2 billion unique monthly users, up 15% compared to the same period last year. And not to be found unprepared for the challenge of streaming video, it changes its strategy in the race by deciding to broadcast for free the original TV series and productions already present on its platform. In short, after the creation of Apple TV Channels and Apple TV+ and the continuously rising numbers of Netflix, the company owned by Google shows it doesn’t want to raise the white flag.
YouTube, movies and TV series for free (with advertising)
According to what Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer of YouTube, said, the video sharing social network has decided to adopt a different business model than Netflix and Apple TV Channels. No paywall or subscriptions, but free viewing of content interspersed with advertisements. A model closer to those of audio streaming services, in which users can access for free the entire audio library listening to advertisements from time to time.
What to watch for free on YouTube
It must be said, however, that at the moment the offer of series and TV programs produced by YouTube is not comparable to that of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. This doesn’t mean, however, that you won’t find noteworthy or appreciable series. Among those that will be distributed for free are Cobra Kai (two seasons for a total of 55 episodes and third season coming soon), Impulse, Kevin Hart: What the Fit and Liza On Demand. In the coming weeks or months should arrive TV series and programs curated by Paris Hilton, a documentary on Alicia Keys and live streaming of events such as Lollapalooza and Coachella.