YouTube goes vertical in update to mobile app
ANAHEIM, Calif. — YouTube is on a roll, with more viewers, time spent viewing, and videos being uploaded to the world’s No. 1 video site.
Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of Google's YouTube, told attendees at the VidCon convention here that YouTube is pulling in 1 billion viewers monthly, with daily usage of the service up 40% year-over-year. Viewers are spending 60% more time watching videos.
In her talk, Wojcicki displayed a new version of the YouTube mobile app, out now for Android, and coming soon to Apple devices, with playback of videos in vertical mode for the first time, better recommendations and playlists, she said.
The re-designed app resurrects the subscription box, which is “awesome news for creators,” said author and YouTube star John Green in a tweet.
The YouTube chief said much effort is being focused on 360 degree immersive video. “We will soon offer support for 360 degree video, in 3-D,” she said. This includes adding the GoPro camera rigs that make Jump 360-degree videos to its YouTube Spaces locations, which will expand to Toronto and Mumbai.
What's also big on YouTube? Advertising views. Wojcicki said the number of advertisers running video ads has increased 40%. Its first 360-degree ad went live this week.
Vidcon is a convention aimed at the folks who make a living creating videos for online video networks like YouTube. YouTube shares ad revenues with creators, and many are getting rich. At VidCon, Wojcicki said that the number of creators making six-figure salaries increased by 50% year over year.