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Report: Yahoo trying to poach YouTube stars for new video service

According to a report from Recode, Yahoo is toying with the idea of creating its own YouTube-like video service and in the process thinking of ways it could attract some YouTube’s biggest content creators. Recode claims that Yahoo’s strategy for the service will revolve specifically around catering to YouTube creators frustrated with the amount of revenue the service generates.

Yahoo has apparently already been approaching certain YouTube creators about the opportunity:

The strategy in the works — which Yahoo hopes to launch in the next few months — is aimed at taking advantage of persistent complaints by both video creators and owners, who think that they don’t make enough money on YouTube…But creating an online video service is a much bigger deal and is not just conceptual — several industry sources say Yahoo has recently been approaching individual YouTube stars and some of the big networks now on the giant online video service.

The draw for YouTube creators considering moving to Yahoo will be increased ad revenue or guaranteed ad rates, according to Recode. “In addition, Yahoo has offered extensive marketing, even on its home page, as well as allowing video producers the ability to sell advertising along with Yahoo’s sales force.” 

The effort is apparently the second phase of Yahoo’s video service strategy with the first being the rebranded video service it launched as Yahoo Screen a few years back and improved continually since. The report continues by noting Yahoo is currently planning a service that is focused more on content from professional YouTube creators rather than an open platform that lets anyone upload video:

For now, at least, Yahoo isn’t talking about replicating YouTube’s open platform, which lets users upload 100 hours of content every minute to the site. Instead, it is interested in cherry-picking particularly popular, more professional YouTube fare…Yahoo has also told some video owners that it can use its well-trafficked home page and other high-profile real estate to promote their clips, on a non-exclusive basis…After a year, one source inside Yahoo said, it might open the platform up further. One source inside the company said that Yahoo is prepping a new content management system for the effort, although some have suggested it could also buy an existing service like Vimeo.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s weekly Logic Pros series and makes music as one half of Toronto-based Makamachine.