#2- Programming Trends

YouTube Red Programming Trends

So, I'm sure that everyone already knows what YouTube is and probably watches a few videos on there every day or occasionally. Over the years, YouTube has gone from a place where users posted random, entertaining content to a business where users can create careers and make money by just posting videos. YouTube is continuing to become more than a social media platform by creating their own streaming service that is similar to other video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

YouTube Red is YouTube's streaming service creation. For $9.99 a month, subscribers of YouTube Red have complete access to "uninterrupted music, ad-free videos, and more." YouTube subscribers have the option to try it free for a 1-month free trial. Single person subscribers pay $9.99 a month, but families that have up to 6 members have the option to purchase a $14.99 a month membership.

When it comes to the content that YouTube Red provides its subscribers, they offer services that deal with music and video. Subscribers can access the YouTube Music app, play music on all their devices and while exited out of the app, and download music for future, offline listening. As for video streaming, subscribers have access to ad-free videos and can download YouTube videos, similar to how they can download music from YouTube Music.

Alike Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime who produce original programs, YouTube Red also releases its own original movies and series. Some of these movies and series are created by and feature popular YouTube creators. These programs were first released in February 2016. Unlike Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, YouTube Red's video library is all exclusive to the streaming service; they do not feature content that is not original to them. 

YouTube Red currently has 43 original programs (both movies and series) by YouTube creators like Buzzfeed and the Fine Brothers. YouTube Red movies and series feature a variety of genres, from drama to comedy to documentaries. CollegeHumor, a popular YouTube channel with over 12 million subscribers, created a YouTube Red series about an alternate society where Buzzfeed quizzes decide the societal group you belong in. YouTube creator Joey Graceffa created "a reality murder mystery series" called "Escape the Night" which features other popular YouTube creators as contestants. In addition to series, YouTube Red creates movies like "The Thinning," which is a teen dystopian movie starring social media influencer Logan Paul. YouTube also releases its own documentaries with one of its most recent being "Demi Lovato Simply Complicated" that focused on Demi Lovato's life and career over the past few years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FbQoI8P7c4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QyzjYqkj2U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCWXmxqIzU

YouTube Red's programming is trying to speak to YouTube's main demographics today, which are those between the ages of 18-34 and 18-49. Statistics also show that milennials, especially those between the ages of 18-24, watch YouTube approximately two times more than regular TV. Teenagers and young adults will be attracted to YouTube Red's programming because it stars popular YouTube creators and other social media influences that may know and like. Throw in a variety of series/ in addition to these starring roles by influencers, and YouTube Red has a formula for success. The streaming service is still in its early years of operation, but it has the potential to grow and produce plenty of new programming over the coming years.

Full lists of YouTube Red's movies and series and their descriptions can be found here and here.

#1- Personal Video Habits

Personal Video Habits

When it comes to my personal video habits, I would have to say that mine involve a mixture of streaming services, TV, and YouTube. I have to admit that I probably spend a bit too much time online (especially when I'm supposed to be doing an assignment- just like this one), and most of the content I consume deals with a variety of videos.

Television

Currently, in my dorm at SAU, I don't have a TV at all. I probably will not get one for my room because I choose to leave my decently sized flat-screen TV at home so I don't have to move it from here to there. I go home sometimes on the weekends and definitely during semester breaks.

When I am at home, I have no shame in saying that I leave my TV on pretty much all day (I know, I know, it's not that great for the electricity bill). I usually leave the volume on low because I'm not a big fan of a too silent room. Just having the TV softly playing in the background helps me to feel more comfortable. When it comes to the type of channels that I play on my TV,  I  have no shame in saying that I sometimes leave it on the Disney Channel. Other channels I like to leave my TV on are TLC, Food Network, FreeForm, and HGTV. I genuinely do like shows that are air on these networks (I'm a sucker for home improvement shows and all the weird ones that come on TLC). When I used to live primarily at home, I would always keep the TV on then occasionally would watch shows here and there. I also had TV shows that I would tune into every week (mostly teen shows like Pretty Little Liars and The 100). Now that I'm at college, I keep up with my shows through online streaming services.

Streaming

The three video streaming services that I use are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. The Netflix account belongs to my parents, but I have my own profile on their Netflix where I can watch my own TV shows and movies. I only use their Netflix when I'm home though because I currently do not have their password. Same goes for Amazon Prime. My parents are the ones paying for that, and I only really get on it at home.

On the flipside, my Hulu account is my own. I currently have Spotify Premium, which I pay $5 a month for thanks to Spotify's college student discount (seriously, THANK YOU, Spotify). This year, Spotify started offering free Hulu subscriptions to college students who purchased the $5 a month Spotify subscription deal. I use Hulu on my laptop and on my phone. The deal is pretty decent if I do say so myself. You have to watch a few commercials (which aren't very long anyways) during TV shows, but movies are practically commercial free.

With streaming services comes binge-watching, which I do partake in from time to time. The last shows I binge-watched were Dark on Netflix and The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu. I highly recommended both of this shows if you're needing something to watch to pass the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy0b9e40tK8

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I am usually always watching a new show and will watch a show from start to finish before moving on to another one, not matter how long it takes. I like to stay in one show's narrative and not switch around to other shows too much. Lately, my favorite types of shows have been sitcoms, but I do love a good drama every now and then (especially mystery/crime).

YouTube

Another avenue through which I watch videos is YouTube. Pretty much everyone already knows what YouTube is and the types of videos that it has available. The social platform has videos for all tastes- those interested in beauty or fitness or music or pranks or whatever tickles your fancy. For me, personally, I watch a lot of beauty related content, daily vloggers (and for some weird reason, family and mom vloggers), lifestyle, humor, and more. I would say that I spend about an hour or so on YouTube every day, usually in the morning when I'm relaxing and drinking my coffee or at night when I'm trying to wind down from a long day.