14 DAY TRIAL // YouTube's latest big move involves tens of channels of professionally produced content, which the site is sponsoring by providing some up-front cash. Some of those channels are already launching and YouTube is highlighting some of the sports and action sports-oriented ones.
"From trick shots and game clips to commentary and live events, sports has always been one of the most popular categories on YouTube. We want to bring you even more sports Channels to get into, so we’re kicking off a new lineup of action sports Channels that bring great original content to you," YouTube wrote.
YouTube is listing four new channels that focus solely on action sports, some of them will be debuting with several new shows.
The four channels debuting now are Alli Sports, which will feature interviews and behind the scenes stuff, as well as commentary in several new shows; Network A, which will feature clips of some of the best athletes; The Red Bull Channel that comes with 13 new series centered around athletes that Red Bull is sponsoring; and finally the Ride Channel, hosted by pro-skater legend Tony Hawk, which will focus on, obviously, skateboarding.
All of the channels are now available, though not all of the shows have started uploading new episodes. However, you can subscribe to any of them to make sure you don't miss out.
"Because it’s YouTube, you can program a lineup of your favorite action sports Channels — that way you won’t miss a trick, highlight or interview. Just subscribe to the Channels you like, and get the latest episodes delivered right to your YouTube homepage," YouTube explained.
The new channels are part of YouTube's strategy of adding more professional content aimed at smaller audiences that traditional television can't normally cater to. Even cable networks, which offer niche content, still have to have a rather large audience for them to make financial sense. On YouTube, scale is no longer an issue.
