The Garden Harvest: Should YouTube Originals Come Back?

Your weekly digest on the intersection of the Creator Economy and Legacy Media.

FRESH CLIPPINGS

The Case for YouTube Originals 2.0

Kaya Yurieff & Jasmine Enberg wrote a great piece on why YouTube should reconsider its Originals efforts, which were scrapped back in 2022. As they argue, it’s all about timing and execution.

We have covered for a while the Netflix vs. YouTube fight, which is in its infancy as the platforms fight for audience dominance, and while YouTube is currently sitting comfortably at the top, there are a few things that Netflix (and legacy media) have that YouTube covets.

Kaya and Jasmine explain:

First, advertisers. Much of YouTube’s revenue comes from small and mid-sized businesses, which makes its ad model look closer to Meta or TikTok than broadcast TV. If YouTube wants true TV budgets, it needs premium, predictable inventory, the kind brands can anchor major campaigns around. That explains the push into tentpole cultural moments, premium ad packages, and positioning itself as a legitimate “TV” destination.

Second, prestige. Netflix forced its w…