TheYouTube Original Channel Initiative was a $100 million program funded byGoogle in 2012 to bring original content ontoYouTube.^[1][2] The original channel initiative was also meant to kick startGoogle TV.^[3] The channels are collectively known as "original", "premium" or "YouTube-funded" channels.

In September 2012, twenty of the 100 original channels started getting at least 1 million views a week.^[4] In October, YouTube introduced 60 new original channels.^[5] Google invested an additional $200 million into the original programming as well.^[6] The top 25 original programs also averaged around 1 million views per week at the time of the announcement.^[7] However, in November, YouTube ended funding for more than 60% of the approximately 160 channels it financed as part of the initiative.^[8] After cancellation, YouTube kept all incoming revenue from these channels that failed to recoup their initial investments.^[8]

In November 2013, it was reported that the landing page for the original channels had become a redirect to a404 error page, seemingly as a way for Google to remove any reference to the original channel initiative.^[9]

The content of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative includesSourceFed,Young Hollywood,The Mom's View,The Wall Street Journal,Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles,^[10]Crash Course,BadTeeth,i am OTHER, The Pet Collective, Epic Level TV,Geek & Sundry,MyMusic,Frederator Networks'Cartoon Hangover,The Spangler Effect, andThe Multiverse among several others.^[1][11][12] Most participants in the program created channels through their production companies. The program also partnered with celebrities from traditional media such as singerMadonna and former professional basketball playerShaquille O'Neal, who were partners with the dance channelDanceOn and the Comedy Shaq Network, respectively.

One ofTubefilter's articles includes a full list of the original channels,^[1] which differs fromYouTube's listing.^[13]

Deadline Hollywood started tracking the weekly video view stats for all the channels part of YouTube's Original Channel Initiative in May 2012.^[14]

Participants included:

• Madonna
• Pharrell Williams
• Young Hollywood founderR.J. Williams
• formerNBA starShaquille O'Neal
• comedianAmy Poehler
• actorAshton Kutcher
• The Office starRainn Wilson
• comedianKenny Hotz
• Motor Trend
• SourceFed
• spiritual doctorDeepak Chopra
• Modern Family actressSofia Vergara
• Hank andJohn Green (viaVlogbrothers)

• 2010s in YouTube
• Internet properties disestablished in 2013
• Internet properties established in 2012
• YouTube-funded channels

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata