Google’s YouTube Getting Serious and Adding Premium TV Channels
Last week we wrote about Google’s shift towards offering original content on YouTube, and now it seems that the company is indeed working on deals to provide approximately two dozen premium content TV channels on the video site.
Google’s Youtube has reportedly been in talks with Warner Bros. BermanBraun, and other content providers on this new initiative, which is expected to cost $150 million.
If the deals go through, premium channels could be available on YouTube early next year, with original shows offering TV-style entertainment and news. Currently, Google offers movie rentals at $3.99 for new releases and free with advertisements for older releases, but the addition of new channels with online programming is a separate project.
With all new original content available, Google will definitely be in the running to compete with both cable networks and competitors such as iTunes and Hulu. Both Hulu and iTunes offer television shows and movies on their sites, but original programming could give Google quite a leg up on the competition. An official announcement of the new project is expected within the next month.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]