Skip to main content

YouTube announces new channels, tons of original content coming soon

An announcement had been expected for a while and it finally came Friday evening. In a post on its official blog, YouTube revealed its plans to expand its current channel line-up with a mass of originally produced content, “including channels created by well-known personalities and content producers from the TV, film, music, news, and sports fields, as well as some of the most innovative up-and-coming media companies in the world and some of YouTube’s own existing partners,” YouTube’s Robert Kyncl wrote in the post.

“The channels will have something for everyone, whether you’re a mom, a comedy fan, a sports nut, a music lover or a pop-culture maven,” he promised.

Recommended Videos

Google-owned YouTube is offering a sneak preview of the list of channels which will be coming to its video streaming website in the very near future. And it looks like a serious amount of content is on its way. A cursory look at the list of 96 channels shows some familiar names – The Wall Street Journal, The Onion, TEDEducation, Slate, Reuters, and eHow, to name but a few.

Other channels include KickTV (soccer news, information and entertainment), Pop Spot (a one-stop, daily drop, pop shop for all your pop culture needs), KinCommunity (women’s lifestyle channel featuring content across food, fashion, parenting and personal stories), and Motor Trend (car and car culture entertainment).

There’s been talk for a while about YouTube’s intentions to create original, professional-grade content in a bid to increase traffic and attract high-end advertisers although no official word had come from the video streaming website until today.

Google is believed to have handed out as much as $100 million to production companies to help get the free channels off the ground. With the launch of the new channels, Google hopes to take on the likes of Netflix and Dish Network.

The first of the channels will appear on YouTube next month, with more being added throughout 2012.

And don’t worry, the new content will not be coming to the video streaming website at the expense of any of its more familiar fare, so fans of piano-playing dogs and finger-biting babies will still be able to comfortably get their fix.

[Image courtesy of Poleze / Shutterstock]

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
What is YouTube Music? Everything you need to know
iPhone 15 Pro Max showing the YouTube Music app.

YouTube, long renowned for its vast video library, has quietly established itself as a formidable music streaming service. Its dedicated app, YouTube Music, offers a curated collection of songs, albums, and podcasts catering to various music lovers. With millions of songs and countless music videos, YouTube Music boasts a comprehensive catalog that rivals industry giants like Spotify and Apple Music.

The app utilizes advanced algorithms to suggest music based on your listening habits, ensuring a tailored and enjoyable experience. YouTube Premium subscribers can download their favorite tracks for offline playback, perfect for commutes, workouts, or areas with limited internet connectivity.

Read more
What is YouTube Premium? Price, content, and more
YouTube Music

When it comes to watching videos on the internet, YouTube remains the most common place to do it. It's been around since 2005, delivering a hub for video content and includes everything from the newest music videos, to live-streaming events. While the website itself is free to use, its filled with ads that have a tendency to interrupt your videos at the worst possible time. However, with YouTube Premium you can eliminate those pesky ads, and get back to watching the content you want to see -- without interruptions.

The YouTube family of products can be a bit confusing, however. In addition to YouTube Premium, there are other paid services like YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and the now-defunct YouTube Go, plus some free movies on YouTube you don't want to miss. The price of YouTube Premium has changes since launch, and with new services like YouTube Premium Lite, its worth considering which option is right for you. There are even bundling options that could save you some money like the YouTube Premium family plan, or the free trial.

Read more
YouTube TV: plans, pricing, channels, how to cancel, and more
An NFL Sunday Ticket multiview option on YouTube TV.

Streamers like Netflix continue to fight for dominance of original content in TV and film against the seemingly endless number of VOD platforms available today. With new apps and services landing regularly, it can be hard to tell what platforms to pay attention to. But heed our words, friends: trust in YouTube TV. 

Similar to Hulu Plus Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV offers access to live local and cable only channels, as well as on-demand YouTube movies and shows. There are several other perks to enjoy too, and we’ve broken everything down in this complete guide to YouTube TV.

Read more