YouTube developing free original shows with Kevin Hart, Ellen DeGeneres & others

Possibly concerned about the growing amount of original video on competiting services like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple Music, Google's YouTube has announced plans to premiere six new shows, starring people like Ellen DeGeneres and comedian Kevin Hart.

While DeGeneres will simply offer a behind-the-scenes look at her talk show, Hart will star in "What the Fit," in which he tries different workouts along with celebrity guests, reported.

Ryan Seacrest will meanwhile take charge of "Best.Cover.Ever," a music competition. Established YouTube celebrities Rhett & Link will expand on "Good Mythical Morning" with more guests, correspondents, and challenges, while a series with singer Demi Lovato will cover the writing and recording of a new album.

YouTube is planning to fund over 40 original shows and movies in the next year at a cost of hundreds of millions, one Bloomberg source said.

The company is also said to be spending more money on content for YouTube Red, which on top of original shows offers ad-free viewing, offline and background playback, and a Google Play Music subscription. The Bloomberg source indicated that YouTube has been talking with partners about Red shows budgeted between $3 million and $6 million per hour, on par with what some HBO and Showtime productions cost.

That could make Red more competitive with services like Netflix and Hulu, which spend HBO-like budgets on shows such as "Stranger Things" and "The Handmaid's Tale." Red has so far relied on the appeal of independent creators, and simply being able to use YouTube uninterrupted.

Apple's video efforts are still in early stages. The company is expected to have up to 10 shows and documentaries by the end of 2017, including "Carpool Karaoke," "Planet of the Apps," and films about Bad Boy Records, Clive Davis, and Cash Money Records. "iOS 11" may even feature a redesigned Music app designed to highlight video.

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15 Comments

lorin schultz

said about 6 years ago

There is a really fundamental difference between what Netflix creates and what Apple and YouTube are said to be making. Netflix makes really high quality, wide-appeal programming that's as good as or better than what the major networks produce. The YouTube and Apple offerings strike me as just (comparatively) cheap to produce, me-too reality TV stuff that will appeal only to a fairly limited niche market.

Maybe their intention is just to dip their toes in the market before committing to a head-first dive into production. If so, I wonder if it's a good idea? First impressions are lasting, and it seems like it would be harder to build an audience after a blah start. Better to come out of the gate with a big, splashy, attention-grabbing show. Then even if growth is slow, at least viewers will have formed a positive impression of the service.

Or maybe this is the result of the executive team being populated with music-centric, teen-market-oriented skill sets, and they think this is what people want.

Maybe they're right and I'm just not in the target demographic.

NY1822

said about 6 years ago

i highly doubt Apple will just release their game show and Carpool show and call it a day....Especially with Tim Cook stating 2 days ago cord cutting has accelerated faster than expected...
https://www.google.com/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4287870/amp/Claims-say-Apple-looking-buy-studio.html

macgui

said about 6 years ago

I really like what Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix have done with original drama content. Their production values have been like making mini movies instead of 'just TV' shows.

And while I appreciate that Apple is only dipping it's toes into those waters it's not at all an auspicious move, with their Car Pool program. I thought Cordon's version was amazing, and not having him in it is disappointing, just like the American version Top Gear. Granted, not having seen it, I could be blown away when it finally debuts. As of now I'm heavily managing my expectations.

To me, Car Pool is Apple opening the door to original content, just a crack and asking 'Can I play too?' instead of throwing it open with something great and saying 'How do you like me NOW!' But it's a music show and Apple wants to shine a light on Apple Music.

tycho_macuser

said about 6 years ago

Ok, cool...
if any of them turn out to be decent- I guess I'll wait for rips to post, sans commercials & check it out.
At this point in my life, it's been well over two decades since I've subjected myself to the grating annoyance of advertising, as a trade off to view programming. I literally cannot imagine what would convince me to go back.

holyone

said about 6 years ago

macgui said:

I really like what Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix have done with original drama content. Their production values have been like making mini movies instead of 'just TV' shows.

And while I appreciate that Apple is only dipping it's toes into those waters it's not at all an auspicious move, with their Car Pool program. I thought Cordon's version was amazing, and not having him in it is disappointing, just like the American version Top Gear. Granted, not having seen it, I could be blown away when it finally debuts. As of now I'm heavily managing my expectations.

To me, Car Pool is Apple opening the door to original content, just a crack and asking 'Can I play too?' instead of throwing it open with something great and saying 'How do you like me NOW!' But it's a music show and Apple wants to shine a light on Apple Music.

Agreed, I think there was probably some contractual issues with Cordon and that's why Apple couldn't get him, but yeah the trailers seemed to me like the show is now all over the place with helicopters and Bars kinda loosing some of its charm. But I do like them starting with music oriented shows first, it's a good strategy that Apple is employing it minimizes risk and keeps everything simple and creates a great foundation, hopefully though they build a separate studio or buy one and keep it as far away from Cuppetino as possible the last thing a production studio would need would be to concern it self with the public's image of Apple and it's social politics, just put up some cash and let creative people make great content for everyone.