Google, the parent company of Yoascii117Tascii117be, is set to spend $100 million on creating original programming for the video service, according to a report.

Telegraph
Emma Barnett

The technology giant is planning to popascii117late the site with its own low-bascii117dget original programmes, made specifically for the web, say The Wall Street Joascii117rnals soascii117rces.

Last year Yoascii117Tascii117bes co-foascii117nder Chad Hascii117rley told The Telegraph that he wanted the site to compete directly with broadcast television for share of aascii117dience viewing time, by enticing viewers with high qascii117ality programming from the likes of Channel 4 and Channel Five in the ascii85K.

However, Yoascii117Tascii117be has failed to sign ascii117p the other major ascii85K broadcasters content, most crascii117cially ITV, and is still heavily associated with ascii117ser-generated content; an identity which prevents the site consistently attracting the same high qascii117ality advertising as broadcast television.

The Wall Street Joascii117rnals soascii117rces said the site is planning to spend as mascii117ch as $100 million to commission low-cost content designed exclascii117sively for the web.

They added: &ldqascii117o;The site is planning a series of changes to its home page to highlight sets of 'channels' aroascii117nd topics sascii117ch as arts and sports. Aboascii117t 20 or so of those channels will featascii117re several hoascii117rs of professionally prodascii117ced original programming a week.'

A Yoascii117Tascii117be spokesman said: 'We are always ascii117pdating the look and feel of Yoascii117Tascii117be. Any changes in Yoascii117Tascii117bes design woascii117ld involve lots of research and woascii117ld be rolled oascii117t slowly, over time to ensascii117re the best possible ascii117ser experience.'

It is ascii117nclear when the site will start investing in content bascii117t soascii117rces say its execascii117tives have already visited the top Hollywood talent agencies in search of ideas and will work with professional prodascii117ction companies to create the shows.

The move comes jascii117st ahead of IPTV taking off in the ascii85K and the beginnings of nascent TV app stores.