REPORT: YouTube Lands Celebrities For Featured Channels
Since April, we’ve been hearing rumors that YouTube is set to launch a series of featured content channels. We reported earlier this month that the video-sharing service is paying more than $100 million for original professional content and now the names of several celebrities who are involved in the project appear to have emerged.
Around 100 channels will be launched with original content from the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Amy Poehler and former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, according to The Wall Street Journal. The project will apparently generate around 25 hours of new, original programming per day on YouTube and the video-sharing service is said to have teamed up with several media companies, production companies and online video creators for the venture.
Other well-known names who are apparently involved are wellness mentor Deepak Chopra, actor and comedian Rainn Wilson and “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara. YouTube is expected to give around 55 percent of its resulting ad revenues to some content creators after it recoups its initial investment.