Google looks to woo European media owners with tailored YouTube 'Player for Publishers'

""At Google and YouTube, we're big fans of the news industry and recognise that technology companies and news organisations are truly part of the same information ecosystem--which is why we want to play our part in the fight towards more sustainable models for news in the future. "Today, through a unique partnership between YouTube and a number of leading European news publishers, we're launching a new video solution specifically tailored to the needs of news industry;"

"The new tool gives audiences better viewing experiences, while offering publishers more options when it comes to monetising their content. The Drum understands that publishers will have control over the number of pre-roll ads that appear before their videos, and provide news outlets the option for one pre-roll ad per video view as well as mid-roll ads on long-form content on their owned-and-operated sites and apps."

"The tool has been launched as European authorities plan to reform copyright laws, which could mean Google and similar sites would be forced to pay newspaper publishers a fee when using extracts or snippets of their stories; something the head of the European Newpaper Community, Carlo Perrone, has described as a "significant and historic step". The shakedown could also see publishers and producers required to tell performers or authors what profits their works have generated."

YouTube unveiled Player for Publishers, a video product tailored to the needs of news publishers and designed to improve viewer experiences and monetisation. Publishers can control the number of pre-roll ads and may opt for one pre-roll per view plus mid-roll ads on long-form content on their own sites and apps. The product was developed in partnership with the Digital News Initiative and several leading European news publishers to reduce complexity and increase reach and revenue potential. The launch coincides with planned European copyright reforms that could compel platforms to pay publishers for extracts and to disclose profits to performers and authors.

Read at The Drum