Online Media News South Africa

YouTube scales back; invests in YouTube Kids, Black Voices Fund

It's been reported that YouTube will scale back a significant portion of YouTube Originals, which produced original content including scripted series, educational videos, music and celebrity programming.

Robert Kyncl, chief business officer at YouTube, issued a statement on Twitter, saying that Susanne Daniels, global head of YouTube Originals - which was first created in 2016 - and her team, created an international slate of award-winning programmes collectively amassing billions of views, shining a light on incredible creators, important social topics, and introducing YouTube to new audiences.

This rapid growth comes with new opportunities and now their investments can make a greater impact on even more creators.

In addition, it has been announced that Susanne Daniels, a veteran entertainment executive and the global head of original content at YouTube, will exit on 1 March 2022.

Daniels joined YouTube in 2015 to create a slate of original dramas, comedies and unscripted series, aiming to attract high-end advertisers and persuade more of the site’s users to pay for a premium service

Going forward, the company will only fund originals in the YouTube Kids Fund and the Black Voices Fund, a programme created in 2020 that committed $100m to "amplify" Black creators on the platform.

Kyncl concluded that YouTube will honour their commitment for already contracted shows in progress and creators who are involved with those shows should expect to hear from us directly in the coming days.

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