Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels

Six months ago, Robert Kyncl, YouTube's Global Head of Content Partnerships, announced that "even more talented creators and original entertainment will soon join YouTube's existing channel lineup."

And two weeks from now, a panel of TV critics, YouTube producers and other experts will "take a close look at the most interesting and prominent of the new YouTube channels" at Streaming Media East 2012. The session is entitled, "Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube's New Content Channels."

SEE ALSO: Two New Original Content YouTube Channels Focus On Entertainment News

Oh, if only it were so simple.

For starters, 18 of the 96 original channels announced on Oct. 28, 2011, still haven't appeared on YouTube.  One of these is the Machinima Prime channel, which should do well even though it doesn't have a track record yet.  So, try handicapping that!

Another 22 of the original "channels" seem to be original content on existing channels.  For example, My Damn Channel: Live happens every weekday at 4pm Eastern on My Damn Channel, which was launched four years ago.  So, how do you calculate how many incremental video views have been generated by a hosted 30-minute live weekly comedy series plus daily 10-minute interactive blasts?

Four of the "original" channels started uploading videos nine to 11 months ago.  So, how do you handicap the "Smart Girls at the Party," who acted like "sooners" in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889?

Nevertheless, 52 original channels have appeared on YouTube in the last six months.  They come in five different categories: Pop culture, lifestyle, news & education, sports, and music.  But, there's a way to compare these apples and oranges: video views.

So, here are the top 10 original channels launched in the last six months based on video views:

Let's quickly review each one.

SourceFed by Philip Defranco brings "everything that should and shouldn't matter to you explained and broken apart by people who vomit words."  With 1,379,518 views, the channel's most popular video is "Top 99 Most DESIRABLE WOMEN of 2012."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lENYXZE4HPE" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lENYXZE4HPE']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

Noisey is VICE's new music channel, "so you know it's going to feature music that's actually good." With 18,346,938 views, its most popular video is "M.I.A. - Bad Girls (Official Video)."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYs0gJD-LE" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYs0gJD-LE']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

ENTV by PMC brings together Deadline.com, TVLine.com, HollywoodLife.com, and Movieline.com "to break the biggest stories in movies, television and celebrity news, FIRST." With 5,007,602 views, the channel's most popular video is "Ted Official Red Band Trailer [HD]: Mark Wahlberg Wishes His Teddy."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKfC77XAp8" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKfC77XAp8']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

ClevverNews by Clevver Media provides up-to-the-minute daily entertainment news "featuring the hottest celebrity interviews, pop culture and Hollywood headlines from a positive, upbeat angle."  With 1,876,353 views, the channel's most popular video is "Chris Brown & Rihanna Together At Her 24th Birthday Party! – EXCLUSIVE."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOVTxU1uAzs" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOVTxU1uAzs']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

eHow Home by Demand Media challenges you to "make your home look and feel the way you've always wanted." With 76,999 views, the channel's most popular video is "The Garden Home Challenge With P. Allen Smith."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkq6OkN15p8" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkq6OkN15p8']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

Drive by Emil Rensing International celebrates the culture of cars.  With 659,887 views, the channel's most popular video is "Muscle Cars and Road Courses Make Unlikely Partners – TUNED."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ufEpb_WIR0" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ufEpb_WIR0']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

RIDE Channel by 900 Films, Inc. features weekly shows from Tony Hawk and a host of others. With 640,957 views, the channel's most popular video is "Tony Hawk interviews Tyler The Creator of Odd Future."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FCLWZro1VM" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FCLWZro1VM']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

SciShow by Vlogbrothers is where the science goes.  With 448,965 views, the channel's most popular video is "Mind Reading."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zh-bS5SDpw" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zh-bS5SDpw']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

START by IGN Entertainment / Shine Group is the new entertainment channel for gamers.  With 863,139 views, the channel's most popular video is "Mass Effect Cartoon - Debut Trailer."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqHUa2LfNY" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqHUa2LfNY']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

Geek & Sundry by Knights of Good Productions features the very best of indie geek culture.  With 888,789 views, the channel's most popular video is "The Guild: I'm the One That's Cool Directed by Jed Whedon, Co-Written By Jed Whedon & Felicia Day."

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhgupR565Q" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhgupR565Q']);" rel="nofollow, external" target="_blank"><img class="nopin" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi//0.jpg" alt="Handicapping and Reviewing YouTube’s New Content Channels" title="0"/></a>

That's my take.

How would you handicap and review YouTube's new content channels?

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