Indian-made YouTube videos record 95% growth in 2 years

50 independent creators hit 1 million subscribers

Propelled by unprecedented access to broadband, production of YouTube videos has seen a phenomenal 95% growth over the last two years in India. To upgrade the quality of those videos, YouTubers could now look out for the platform’s Pop-up Spaces, designed to help them learn techniques, connect globally and create quality content.

A study had indicated that seven out of 10 Internet users in India watch videos every month. Over 55% of YouTube watchtime is on mobiles. This trend is poised for a big leap ahead since the number of Internet users is estimated to grow to 650 million by 2020.

The Indian video growth cuts across all genres, with a decidedly local spin in story-telling, YouTube Spaces Global head, Lance Podell tells DH in a telephonic conversation. From culture to comedy, food to how-to videos, the content creation is booming. “In the last 10-12 months, over 50 independent creators in India have hit the milestone of one million subscribers and thousands of creators have hit 100,000 subscribers mark,” he informs. How will the pop-up YouTube Space, first of which was launched in India in Hyderabad, help independent YouTube creators? The pop-up format, says Podell, will empower an emerging breed of young local language YouTube creators to provide richer, more engaging visual content across genres.

Built around a ‘Learn, ‘Connect’ and ‘Create’ model, the three-day pop-up YouTube Space format has been designed to let video creators access professional hi-end sets and equipment. They are also trained on video production basics and strategies used by the most successful YouTube creators worldwide.

About 800 creators had lined up for the event. Also on the pop-up agenda were hands-on workshops to improve the participants’ presence on Google and YouTube. “We introduce them to advanced techniques including Virtual Reality, 360 Degree Cameras and live shooting besides basics of audio and video editing. Our research shows that these help double or even triple the viewership of videos as they look sharper and brighter,” explains Podell.

In 2015, YouTube had launched a permanent YouTube Space in Mumbai at the Whistling Woods campus. Since its launch, over 7,500 creators have visited the Space and produced over 500 videos with free-of-cost access to the locations and hi-end studios.

Creators are required to have at least 10,000 subscribers to unlock use of the Space. Since the first YouTube Space opened in 2012, over 1.5 lakh creators have visited the Spaces globally, creating over 10,000 videos