#whyzype

Jan Riemens talks with TheWrap about Zoomin.TV's expansion into the U.S. and using YouTube as a farm system

Zoomin.TV's Jan Riemens claims they "make more than 50% of their income from 2,000 sites off YouTube... [and that] a YouTube video must get 20% more views off-site to generate the same ad share.

The key to their success? Subscription models that let fans buy videos, not just stream them.

Teens and tweens-focused YouTube Channel Drives Big Numbers 

Congratulations to AwesomenessTV, a YouTube MCN acquired by DreamWorks in 2013, for driving over 1 billion views per month since expanding the brand beyond the YouTube Partner footprint.

"While YouTube remains a key platform for AwesomenessTV, the company is expanding beyond that... [to] Nickelodeon" says TJ Marchetti, the CMO of AwesomenessTV.

AwesomenessTV is yet another success story of leveraging platforms like YouTube to acquire an initial fan-base, then taking it to the next level with a custom platform.

Felix Kjellberg, better known as the YouTube star PewDiePie, is making roughly $4 million a year, with most being straight profit.

Huge congrats to Felix who, after dropping out of college, "sold hot dogs to get by" before forming PewDiePie.

At Zype we just wonder one thing: how much more could he make with his own custom platform? 

Google was conspicuously absent from the panels at a Santa Monica fest for MCNs, but execs couldn't stop talking about its video hosting giant.

As brands seek additional ways to monetize their content and brand, YouTube continues to deter extracurricular behavior.

According to Todd Longwell, YouTube "punishes channels for pushing off-platform," most likely via lower ranking search results and less visibility in "related video" sidebar suggestions. 

This behavior discourages YouTubers from driving fans to additional revenue streams such as merchandise platforms, leaving them evermore dependent on the 45% ad share. 

After decades of reliably scheduling when audiences are to be entertained, the linear broadcast model is hitting obsolescence, thanks to technology.

"These are uncomfortable days for network television executives" starts this fantastic article by Ernesto Schmitt of TNW. 

He couldn't be more right, as audiences of even the most popular series on the planet (Game of Thrones, Mad Men, etc) demand more flexibility in their ability to watch programming when they want, where they want it, and on what device.

No longer are consumers willing to pay superfluous "usage taxes," sign lengthy contracts, or let cable companies dictate what content they get to enjoy.

The actor-director has used his star power on YouTube to galvanize his fans and fund the largest crowdfunding campaign in web series history. Now he wants to use that model to take over Hollywood.

YouTube's Partner Program is sufficient for the casual content producer who makes short films in their spare time for the pure fun of it.

But what about those who depend on their talents to make a full-time living through online video?

With the advent of new monetization tools for video producers it's becoming increasingly clear that YouTube, while perhaps the most comprehensive starting point, is not a final destination for stars like Freddie Wong.

Where platforms like Kickstarter, YouTube, and Facebook fall short, entrepreneurs are stepping in.

No matter how many subscribers you "have" on YouTube, they belong to YouTube. Want to send a newsletter? Sorry. What about merchandise? Good luck pointing users off-site.