Google Acquires Next New Networks for Youtube Next

Posted by Richard Kastelein in Breaking News on March 08, 2011  |  0 Comments More from this author  |    |  Follow Richard Kastelein on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Next New Networks is now part of YouTube and will become a core component of YouTube Next, a new team that will focus on supercharging content creator development on YouTube, driving deeper expertise in partner audience development, and incubating new ideas that can be shared with the broader community.

Since Next New Networks opened their doors in March 2007, they've managed to create an effective platform for developing, packaging and building audiences for original web video programming - to the point that programming has been viewed over 2 billion times and built a following of more than 6 million subscribers.

A big part of that growth has been the more than 60 independent producers who have partnered with the company as part of the Next New Creators program, including popular YouTube partners such as The Gregory Brothers, Hot for Words, and Nalts, in addition to the ongoing growth of networks like Barely Political (home of Obama Girl and "The Key of Awesome"), Indy Mogul, ThreadBanger, and Fast Lane Daily.

Google commented:

Next New Networks. We are extremely excited to announce the acquisition of Next New Networks. Since launching in March 2007, the Next New Networks team has built a highly effective platform for developing, packaging and building audiences around original web video programming, attracting over 2 billion views and 6 million subscribers across their partner networks of channels and shows. Within YouTube, Next New Networks will be a laboratory for experimentation and innovation with the team working in a hands on way with a wide variety of content partners and emerging talent to help them succeed on YouTube. We are thrilled with the new capability the team brings and the positive impact it will have making our YouTube partners more successful.