YouTube expands platform for customized viewing

Video-sharing website YouTube recently introduced Filipino viewers to "Brandcast," which showcases new insights, platform growth and opportunities for brands, businesses and media partners.

Noting that the "new primetime is personal," YouTube said Filipino viewers are now more adept in customizing viewing experiences that they watch videos that cater to their personal interests, passions and needs, resulting in the disappearance of the "primetime hours" viewing habits.

"The Philippines is an important market for YouTube," said Vishal Sarin, director of YouTube Content Partnerships in Southeast Asia.

"Over the years, we have seen an immense growth not only in the number of people watching videos but also in creators starting their own channels and brands going digital to engage their consumers. As we are committed to the Philippines, we plan to further grow the YouTube ecosystem by forging more local partnerships and developing creators outside of Metro Manila," Sarin added.

From 2016 to 2019, the number of creator channels with more than 100,000 subscribers have grown by 20 times. By 2019, there are over 750 channels with more than 100,000 subscribers.

In three years since 2016, the number of media channels with more than one million subscribers have increased by 10 times. Now, there are over 20 media channels with more than one million subscribers.

GMA Network, on July 23, received the Diamond Content Creator Award after the GMA Entertainment Channel reached the 10-million subscriber mark.

The Diamond Play Button was awarded by YouTube’s Southeast Asia Director of Content Partnerships and Business Development Vishal Sarin and Content Partnerships Philippines Country Lead Pablo Mendoza.

"That’s quite an achievement," said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.

"Translating into growth, that’s about four times growth [in watch time] year-on-year. That’s enough reason for us to be really gratified and happy," he added. — BAP/KBK, GMA News