After more than six years trying to be a benchmark in a highly competitive sector, YouTube decided to throw in the towel with the production of original content. YouTube Originals, as the video platform baptized the division, will close its doors, as reported Variety.
However, it was only a matter of time before YouTube pulled out of this business. During March 2021, Susanne Daniels, who at the time was the head of YouTube Originals, left her position. On the other hand, the division was already showing signs of surrender when they significantly reduced the investment destined to produce original content.
According to Robert Kyncl, director of business at YouTube, his commitment to original content was key to grow the community of content creators. “There are currently over 2 million creators in the YouTube Partner Program and our community has never been more successful – we’ve paid out over $30 billion to creators, artists and media companies in the last three years,” he pointed.
The manager, however, points out that new opportunities have arisen to direct the company’s investment. These include, for example, the Creator Shorts Fund, Black Voices and Live Shopping. So that, YouTube Originals will say goodbye forever on March 1. Of course, those creators who still have ongoing contracts with the division, apparently will not be affected after the closure.
“I want to thank you for your vision, creativity, and leadership. Together, these factors contributed to our decision to scale back our YouTube Originals slate. Going forward, we will only fund programs that are part of our Black Voices and YouTube Kids funds. We will honor our commitment to ongoing shows already contracted. Creators who are involved with those shows should expect information directly from us in the coming days,” Kyncl concluded.
YouTube Originals hizo posible a Cobra Kai
If there is something we can rescue from YouTube Originals, beyond allowing many creators to make their work known, it is that the initiative gave life to one of the most popular series today. We talk about Cobra Kai, which was previously an exclusive YouTube production. However, it is now part of the original Netflix catalog, where it has found the necessary support to boost its success season after season.