Google is extending its YouTube pilot advertising beyond the major media companies and independent video makers it started with. Now a number of amateur filmmakers will be offered the chance to make some extra cash through their creations.
Those wanting to be included in the program can apply to become part of the program. At this time, only those living in the U.S. or Canada can be part of the initiative, although the company said it's possible they may be extending it beyond North America in the near future.
On the YouTube blog, they gave a brief idea of what type of people they were looking for in their next stage of the project:
"We feel it's important to reward our most dedicated community members: those who are regularly uploading original content to YouTube. In evaluating applications, we will focus on the users who have built a significant audience on YouTube (as measured by video views, subscribers, etc.) and who consistently comply with the YouTube Terms of Use."
A marketing clip from YouTube on including more people in the program.
What is this really all about? The online video space has began a shift toward a huge demand for professional or semi-professional video. This is an incentive by Google and YouTube to attract higher quality video to add to its business. The money is going to primarily professional video online at this time, and Google risks missing out on a huge market if they aren't able to attract quality video.
For producers, it's a great chance to get their stuff online and make some money for their effort.
Google's problem in monetizing YouTube is the motivating factor behind this. Now anyone that is able to produce some decent video content has a chance to get their stuff a wider audience and probably receive the majority of the revenue generated.
There is no word on what the revenue split will be, but if it's like in the past, usually the content creators get the greater part of the share.
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