YouTube invests $100m to launch 100 online TV channels in 2012

YouTube

Google-owned YouTube is mounting a major challenge to the traditional TV industry with the planned launch of 100 online channels of original programming in 2012, from partners including the Wall Street Journal, Lionsgate, Madonna and online magazine Slate, reports The Guardian.

Google is investing around $100m to entice producers to launch new channels, with the aim of creating about 25 hours of new, original programming a day from next year.

Media organisations launching channels include Thomson Reuters, Slate, satire site The Onion and Cosmopolitan owner Hearst.

Among the TV production companies and film studios getting involved are Lionsgate, the US company behind Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, which is creating a fitness channel, and X Factor co-producer FremantleMedia, which is to launch a pets and animals channel.

Google has also announced a new version of Google TV, adding search tools that expand results to include shows on cable or web-based services like Netflix and Amazon.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.