2012 Summer Olympics to be live streamed on YouTube

Jake Smith

For those looking to watch this year’s Olympic games, but do not have a cable subscription or just like the feel of YouTube a little better, the International Olympic Committee has you covered. AP reported that the IOC would live-stream over 2,200 hours of the Olympics on to YouTube for those across Asian and in Africa. According to the report, the streaming is primarily for countries that the IOC does not have rights to broadcast in, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand, and Singapore. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. London time with 10 streams of different events. Viewers in 64 territories can check the games out on the Olympics channel when they begin July 27.

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Google and Facebook considering investment in Vevo as YouTube deal comes to an end

Jordan Kahn

According to a report from The New York Post, Google’s CEO Larry Page is considering extending the company’s relationship with label-backed music-video service Vevo by possibly buying an equity stake in the venture. The report claimed that Facebook is also considering making an investment in Vevo, which is reportedly currently valued at $1 billion and run by major labels including Universal Music Group and Sony Music.

Both Google CEO Larry Page and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg are exploring an investment in Vevo as part of a broader partnership with the music-video service, The Post has learned.

Vevo already has a deal with Google to host its content on YouTube, but the report noted that agreement lasts only through the remainder of 2012. Vevo is reportedly negotiating with YouTube to accept lower than the two-thirds of ad-revenue it currently receives from the Vevo content that it hosts. As The Post pointed out, recent stats from comScore listed Vevo as YouTube’s top partner channel in April with 48 million unique viewers during the month.
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Report: Google investing in YouTube content creator Machinima

Jordan Kahn

Following recently signing MGM and Paramount Pictures to add over 1,000 new movies for rent, Google is once again investing in content for YouTube. Today AllThingsD reported the company is about to invest in Machinima, a network featuring videos about videogames that is pulling in about a billion views monthly.

People familiar with the round tell me it should end up raising more than $30 million, and will value the company at around $190 million, post-funding. No comment from Google or Machinima.

The report explained, unlike its past deals with content creators where it recoups over $100 million in investments through ad sales, the Machinima deal would be the first time Google takes an equity stake in a YouTube content provider:
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Jazz Fest is streaming live from New Orleans this weekend on YouTube

9to5 Staff

YouTube, in conjunction with Dell, is streaming music from the Jazz Fest in New Orleans all weekend.

 The broadcast will combine live music from across the next three days with pre-recorded highlights from last weekend.

It may be Jazz Fest by name, but it’s not entirely jazz by nature. The diverse lineup this weekend includes Bon Iver, Tom Petty, Trombone Shorty, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, My Morning Jacket and many more. We’re adding artists all the time, so check-out the official Jazz Fest channel for the latest schedule.

The stream begins at 12pm PT today and runs through 6pm this Sunday. Enjoy!

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Google signs up MGM to add 600 titles to YouTube and Google Play in North America

Jordan Kahn

Earlier this month, Google announced an agreement with Paramount Pictures to bring over 500 new movies for rent to YouTube and Google Play. Today, Google is once again continuing its promise to beef up Hollywood content with the announcement that Metro Goldwyn Mayer signed an agreement to bring 600 titles for rent to both Google Play and YouTube for users in North America. With MGM, Google has now signed up five of the six major studios with only 20th Century Fox holding out, and the rental service on YouTube continues to roll out internationally in the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and elsewhere.

If there’s one consistent opening image moviegoers around the world know and equate with great cinema, it’s Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Roaring Lion (a clip that has over 1 million views on YouTube). For nearly 90 years, MGM has brought some of the best and most memorable films to the silver screen. Today, through a new partnership with MGM, we’ve started adding more than 600 titles for rent to YouTube and Google Play users in the U.S. and Canada. MGM joins five of the six major studios and over ten independent movie studios, currently offering movies for rent on YouTube and Google Play.

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YouTube will live-stream ‘Coachella 2012′ starting tonight, featuring 60 artists including Gotye

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YouTube announced it is live-streaming “Coachella 2012“ all weekend long on its video-sharing platform.

“Since 2001, the the Coachella Music and Arts festival has brought thousands of fans to southern California to kick off the music festival season in style.  For the second year, YouTube will be live streaming the action, with a three day broadcast of the festival, presented by State Farm,” explained Google’s Music Marketing Manager Tim Partridge on the Official YouTube Blog. 

Over 60 artists will stream during the event—from Gotye to The Black Keys. The show begins at 6:50 p.m. EST tonight on the Coachella YouTube channel. Read more