YouTube may offer $1-3 million to produce a series of programmes

YouTube has embark on a new round of planning with Hollywood and independent producers to fund premium content, two sources with facts of the talks tell Reuters, a move that could bolster a three-year-old multimillion-dollar shot that has had sundry success so far.
The talks underline Google’s desire to complete YouTube’s transition from a repository for gritty home videos to a site sporting the more graceful content central to securing higher-priced advertising.
Over the past two months, YouTube executives have begin making the rounds, talking to Hollywood producers to explore the kinds of support it could offer its content creators and construct more must-see programming, according to the two people.
executive did not lay out exactly how a programme would be planned. One of the two people said the site may offer between $1 million and $3 million to manufacture a series of programmes, and might put in marketing funds as well.
The second person said the site was interested in videos shorter than the 30 minute, TV network-quality web shows that Amazon.com and other online sites have immediately funded.
We are always exploring a range of content and marketing ideas to support and increase speed our creators,a YouTube delegate said in an email. The site decline to comment on the meetings.
The latest round of discussions is in its initial phases and actual measures may never materialize, the sources said.
YouTube is by far the world’s most popular location for video streaming, with more than 1 billion single visitors a month, far surpassing Netflix and Amazon. But it is trying to lure more marketers for premium video advertising, boost margins as overall prices for Google’s advertising decline.
YouTube set aside an expected $100 million in late 2011 to bankroll some 100 channels, even if it never confirmed amounts spent or other details. Beneficiaries of that largesse included Madonna and ESPN, as well as lesser-known creators. Reuters was one of the companies that received funds for a channel.But few of those have garnered much mainstream attention.
“Over 115 of the channels launched as part of that initiative are now in the top 2% most-subscribed to channels on the platform,” a company representative said in an email.
YouTube has sustained to provide support for its content creators. It provides production facilities for creators, offers tips on how best to create content, and provides small amounts of funds for creators to test ideas.
The site also provides marketing support for online celebrities, as well as paying for billboards and TV ads for the likes of beauty blogger Michelle Phan and baker Rosanna Pansino.