Started in 2005 by former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, YouTube turned 10 years old over the weekend. Let's take a brief look into the history of this young but incredibly influential site.
Inception
In a 2006 interview with USA Today, Karim cited two events that inspired the trio in 2004 to create a video sharing site: Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl halftime show, and the Asian tsunami.
Probably a sign of things to come. YouTube has proven to be a source of user-generated content in many genres, including mindless stupidity and mind-blowing profundity (plus the stuff in between).
It didn't take long for YouTube to get involved with the big dogs.
In a 2006 interview with USA Today, Karim cited two events that inspired the trio in 2004 to create a video sharing site: Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl halftime show, and the Asian tsunami.
Probably a sign of things to come. YouTube has proven to be a source of user-generated content in many genres, including mindless stupidity and mind-blowing profundity (plus the stuff in between).
It didn't take long for YouTube to get involved with the big dogs.
Movers and Shakers
YouTube has been instrumental in the development of content sharing on the Internet and, as such, has become involved with the big business of media broadcasting as well as the World Wide Web. Here are some intriguing highlights, as collected by Business Insider in a 2013 article:
YouTube has been instrumental in the development of content sharing on the Internet and, as such, has become involved with the big business of media broadcasting as well as the World Wide Web. Here are some intriguing highlights, as collected by Business Insider in a 2013 article:
- September 2005 (while still in Beta): The site's first one-million-hit video was an ad for Nike, marking the beginning of a new and viable medium for marketers.
- June 2006: NBC asked YouTube to remove a Saturday Night Live skit from the site for copyright infringement. The next year, YouTube complied and began working with content providers like NBC to protect copyrighted content. (Interestingly, NBC switched tactics a few months later and made YouTube a partner.)
- October 2006: Google acquired YouTube for some $1.65 million.
- July 2007: YouTube partnered with CNN to host the presidential debate using UGC. According to the article, seven out of 16 presidential candidates that cycle announced their campaigns on the site.
- April 2009: In response to complaints of piracy and unfair licensing terms, YouTube negotiated with Vivendi to launch the Vevo music video service in order to keep distributing big-name music.
Since this time, YouTube has gotten into the movie rental industry, streaming for events like concerts and the Olympic Games, and even works as a traditional broadcast network, paying content creators on contract for original channels.
The site is still evolving with its user base, and it has seen a surge in educational videos as well as vlogging channels.
The site is still evolving with its user base, and it has seen a surge in educational videos as well as vlogging channels.
Making PBS Digital Studies a Thing
One company that seems to have successfully leveraged YouTube as traditional television business strategies evolve (or erode, depending on your outlook) is PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service.
Rob Walker wrote a column for Yahoo Tech about the company early this year titled "How PBS—That’s Right, PBS—Learned to Thrive on YouTube." Walker says:
One company that seems to have successfully leveraged YouTube as traditional television business strategies evolve (or erode, depending on your outlook) is PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service.
Rob Walker wrote a column for Yahoo Tech about the company early this year titled "How PBS—That’s Right, PBS—Learned to Thrive on YouTube." Walker says:
"[The Company's] PBS Digital Studios has launched a slew of shows on YouTube in the past couple of years, all completely distinct from its televised lineup. Last year these shows collectively passed the 100 million-views mark."
The focus on new, original content has worked thus far for PBS. Walker goes on:
"These mini-shows seem to be connecting with exactly the kind of audience traditional media brands are desperate to engage. According to PBS Digital Studios, 79 percent of its viewers are between 13 and 34 years old, and more than a third of them watch on their phones. "
The focus on new, original content has worked thus far for PBS. Walker goes on:
"These mini-shows seem to be connecting with exactly the kind of audience traditional media brands are desperate to engage. According to PBS Digital Studios, 79 percent of its viewers are between 13 and 34 years old, and more than a third of them watch on their phones. "
The way that YouTube has made it possible both for great big behemoths of the TV age like NBC, CNN and PBS to adapt and thrive in the social-media-driven world of the Millennial audience, as well as the way it still provides room (so far) for the grass-roots and small-time productions of social activists and amateurs is what seems to have been the ticket to Internet success.
Happy 10th Birthday, YouTube. Other 10-year-olds might be able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time by this point in their cognitive development, but not anymore, thanks to you.
Well done.
Happy 10th Birthday, YouTube. Other 10-year-olds might be able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time by this point in their cognitive development, but not anymore, thanks to you.
Well done.