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Definition: YouTube
The largest video sharing site. Allowing anyone to upload videos for private or public viewing, YouTube is the second most visited site on the Web (Google search is the first). YouTube delivers more video hours than all the major streaming services combined.
Founded in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, YouTube was acquired by Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion. Within a couple years, YouTube was streaming 25 petabytes (quadrillion bytes) of content each month.
Providing a venue for sharing videos among friends and family as well as a showcase for new videographers, YouTube instructional videos are available on every subject on the planet. It is also a destination for anyone who wants to make a statement. By embedding the appropriate link in a blog or website, YouTube videos are activated from millions of venues.
YouTube Formats
YouTube accepts a variety of formats and converts them to 16:9 wide screen, letterboxing all 4:3 content that is submitted. HTML5 is the default video format, superseding Flash.
YouTube Red, Premium and Music
In 2015, YouTube Red launched as a paid, ad-free service that included music videos. In 2018, Red was renamed YouTube Premium, which also offered original content. Although YouTube Premium retained the music, the music service was also separated and offered independently (see YouTube Music).
YouTube TV
Starting in 2017, YouTube announced a paid streaming service for local TV networks and certain cable channels (see YouTube TV). See video sharing site, YouTube chat and YouTube Gaming.
YouTube Formats
YouTube accepts a variety of formats and converts them to 16:9 wide screen, letterboxing all 4:3 content that is submitted. HTML5 is the default video format, superseding Flash.
YouTube Red, Premium and Music
In 2015, YouTube Red launched as a paid, ad-free service that included music videos. In 2018, Red was renamed YouTube Premium, which also offered original content. Although YouTube Premium retained the music, the music service was also separated and offered independently (see YouTube Music).
YouTube TV
Starting in 2017, YouTube announced a paid streaming service for local TV networks and certain cable channels (see YouTube TV). See video sharing site, YouTube chat and YouTube Gaming.