This week, Google announced that YouTube is extending its Partnership Program.
YouTube Reaches Out With Revenue-Sharing Program
YouTube’s Partner Program has, as a general rule, allowed in only content creators who produce original and heavily viewed clips on a consistent basis. This was a smart and safe approach. But it’s an approach that also excluded a lot of very popular one-off videos, and YouTube’s now seeking to correct the problem.
YouTube Storyboards its Future
There’s no question that YouTube is already a force to be reckoned with in the online video industry. It is the most popular video site on the web by a long shot.
YouTube wants to be better though, and is frequently introducing new features. The company posted some visions for its own future on the YouTube blog today, including visual storyboards of some concepts it intends to pay particular attention to in the coming years. Have a look at those:
YouTube Adds Captions Option to API
About a year ago, YouTube added its feature, which lets users include captions in their videos. The company is now including this feature in the YouTube API, so developers can utilize the functionality.
YouTube Launches Site for Smartphones
Smartphone users now have their own version of YouTube. The company says that smartphone users with "capable" browsers like the iPhone, G1, and Palm Pre can access the mobile site.
YouTube Gets Its Own AdSense
YouTube may have just begun implementing its real moneymaker. The world’s most popular video site is now essentially offering its own AdSense-style program. That comparison comes straight from the horse’s mouth, mind you.
Last year, YouTube launched "Promoted Vidoeos." Now they are putting those on watch pages in the "related videos" section.
YouTube Bringing Local News To You, Traditional Outlets Cringe
YouTube has yet another new—or should I say news?—feature: News Near You.
Local News on YouTube Another Newspaper-Like Issue?
Back in June, YouTube made a couple of announcements that indicated the most popular video site in the world was planning on taking news seriously. YouTube invited major publishers to become partners, and they also launched a new resource for citizen reporters called the YouTube Reporters’ Center.
Blip.tv Partners With YouTube, Roku
Online video company blip.tv has announced distribution partnerships with YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York and Roku, makers of the Roku digital video player.
The new partnership with YouTube allows shows creators to send content to YouTube. Blip.tv will also serve its own ads on shows syndicated on YouTube sharing revenue with creators after giving YouTube a slice of the ad profit.
The News Goes 3D on YouTube
Last week, we took a look at YouTube’s testing of 3D videos after a thread was spotted in the YouTube Help Center where an employee was discussing the concept. This was part of his "20%" time.