YouTube is winding down its original content group, well, almost. YouTube Originals, which is known for making original content, including scripted series and celebrity-oriented programming, will now fund originals in the YouTube Kids Fund and the Black Voices Fund, a programme created in 2020.
Created in 2016 and led by Susanne Daniels, it began with scripted shows and movies, like comedy-thriller series Scare PewDiePie. At first it was about subscription-driven content but within a couple of years there was a shift in strategy. Starting in 2018, YouTube killed off its slate of scripted TV series and movies. Several of its projects moved to other outlets: Cobra Kai has gone on to Netflix, On Becoming a God In Central Florida went to Showtime, and Step Up was picked up by Starz.
Some of the popular originals have been the docuseries Justin Bieber: Seasons, Liza On Demand and Cobra Kai while on the music front we have seen projects with Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, Camilo and Lewis Capaldi.
The move ties in with the departure of Daniels from the company in March. The new programmes that were announced last year, including a series featuring Will Smith and Alicia Keys, will continue and all existing commitments will be upheld.