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YouTube’s Johnny Cash documentary premieres November 11th
A feature-length documentary about the legendary Johnny Cash is on the way to YouTube. The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash features interviews with the singer-songwriter's family and collaborators, along with newly unearthed archive footage and an original score from Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. It delves into the Man in Black's triumphs and spiritual endeavors along with his addiction problems and personal tragedies.
YouTube is working on interactive original shows, too
Netflix isn't the only big-name streaming platform working on interactive shows. YouTube is also developing programming that uses the format. Ben Relles, who was YouTube's head of unscripted programming, is heading up a new division focused on interactive shows and live specials.
YouTube to scale back original shows as it focuses on free viewing
YouTube might not be quite so keen on original shows as it has in the past. Hollywood Reporter sources claim YouTube is planning to scale back its volume of original scripted programming starting in 2020 as part of a "serious budget reduction." It wouldn't drop originals entirely, but it wouldn't be spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year securing major productions. YouTube doesn't "feel like there's an opening" for its scripted work the way there is for rivals like Netflix and Amazon, a third-party producer said. Thankfully, there might be a good reason for toning down these efforts: many originals will be available for free.
Watch the first trailer for YouTube sci-fi thriller series 'Origin'
YouTube's Originals haven't hit the critically-acclaimed highs of rivals Netflix and Hulu's shows, but it's not for want of trying. Its latest stab at creating the next must-watch streaming series is Origin, a sci-fi drama that borrows the premise of Passengers, but jettisons the romance in favour of suspense.
Watch Will Smith's Grand Canyon helicopter bungee jump at 6 PM ET
Of all the things you could possibly be doing on a Tuesday afternoon, watching a live stream of Will Smith bungee jumping out of a helicopter is probably not among the worst. Oh, and he's doing the stunt over the Grand Canyon on his 50th birthday. No biggie. The multi-hyphenate megastar is celebrating his big day in Big Willie Style, and you can watch the jump as it happens, because YouTube is airing it as one of its originals.
YouTube offering bonuses to keep talent away from rivals, says WSJ
Google is throwing money at its YouTube stars to keep them away from a site that hasn't even launched yet, according to the WSJ. Vessel, created by Hulu exec Jason Kilar, has offered some YouTube artists exclusive and lucrative deals to attract attention to its launch later this year. Other sites like Facebook and Crackle have also reportedly been poaching YouTube stars. The "broadcast yourself" site leans on talent like style coach Michelle Phan and comedian Colleen Ballinger (as Miranda Sings, above) to keep loyal channels fans engaged. But Phan, who had an early look at Vessel, called it "stunning," and others have said that they were offered serious money for exclusive deals. Artists that stay loyal are making out better, though -- on top of bonuses, YouTube has been offering rich funding deals to help select stars create new channels. [Image credit: Flickr/Gage Skidmore]
YouTube throws a lot more money at Originals content partners
Google has gone on record as saying it loves original YouTube content like Epic Rap Battles of History, and now it looks as though the outfit is doubling down on such. How so? Well it seems that its fully-stocked studio spaces for partners are just the beginning. YouTube is investing millions into its partner channels, according to Recode. And it's part of a more concerted push into different types of content, replete with varying lengths and formats, too. That includes partnering with Hollywood producers, according to Recode's sources, which naturally gives Google something to sell. The wording on head of YouTube Originals Alex Carloss' blog post makes it sound like the firm's existing pool of talent will be commissioned to do new shows -- albeit with a heavier infusion of cash than they're used to. It sounds like it could be a solid deal for everyone involved: affording content creators more money for their work and pushing YouTube's hopes of becoming a more TV-like experience another step closer to reality. [Image credit: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images]
YouTube's reportedly working on adding 'premium' channels in France
The idea of YouTube having premium content on its site isn't anything we're not familiar with, and according to French site Le Figaro, the Google-owned video giant's about to bring a similar styled service to the home of the Eiffel Tower. Rumor has it The Tube's quite close to striking a deal with content creators in France, one that'd allow it to offer prime channels from production companies such as Endemol and actors like Jean Dujardin. Furthermore, Le Figaro goes on to say programming partners involved in the deal would see between €500,000 and €1,000,000 (about $1.2 million) for pumping out more than 20 hours of original content in a 12-month period. The "premium" channels are said to be coming as early as October of this year, however we'd hold off on expecting to catch Oscar-winner Dujardin on the small, internet-based screens until something becomes official.
