Added: Oct 9, 2023
In this podcast episode, the hosts interview Neil Mohan, the CEO of YouTube, and discuss various topics related to the platform and its future. They start by talking about their personal experiences with YouTube and how it has evolved over the years.Neil Mohan shares his background, mentioning that he has been with Google for 15 years and has been involved with YouTube since before it was acquired by Google. He talks about his role in helping monetize YouTube through advertising and how he eventually became the Chief Product Officer of YouTube in 2015.
The conversation then shifts to the impact of YouTube Shorts, which is a short-form content feature on the platform. The hosts express their concerns about the monetization of Shorts and whether creators will be able to earn at the same scale as long-form content. Neil Mohan acknowledges these concerns but assures that YouTube is committed to building monetization capabilities for Shorts. He mentions that since the launch of Shorts monetization, creator payouts have increased every month, and YouTube is continuously working on developing ad products that work for both viewers and advertisers.
The hosts also discuss the challenges and benefits of AI in relation to YouTube. Neil Mohan expresses his optimism about AI being a net positive for the platform and its creators. He talks about how AI can enhance human creativity and provide tools for creators to improve their content. However, he also acknowledges the challenges, such as deep fakes and misinformation, and mentions that YouTube is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring responsibility.
The conversation then touches on the topic of connection and community on YouTube. The hosts mention their desire for a better community product on the platform, as they currently rely on external platforms like Discord to engage with their audience. Neil Mohan acknowledges this and mentions that YouTube is always looking for ways to enhance the community experience on the platform.
The hosts also discuss the relevance of subscribers on YouTube. They express their concerns about the metric and its correlation to depth of connection with the audience. Neil Mohan acknowledges that subscribers are still important but mentions that their relative importance may vary depending on the creator and their content.
The conversation continues with the hosts expressing their desire for YouTube to retain more of the audience engagement within the platform. They mention the various off-platform channels they use to engage with their audience, such as newsletters and Discord communities. Neil Mohan acknowledges this and mentions that YouTube is focused on enabling monetization opportunities, including shopping features, to keep creators within the ecosystem.
Mohan mentions that YouTube has seen significant success in generating revenue through YouTube Shopping. He cites an example of a team member who made a substantial amount of money through a short video that linked to their products. This success highlights the potential for creators to monetize their content through YouTube Shopping, and Mohan emphasizes the importance of making this process as frictionless and seamless as possible for viewers.
Mohan also discusses the significance of YouTube not participating in creators' brand partnerships or off-platform businesses. He believes that YouTube should feel like home for creators and that they should be able to build their businesses on the platform while retaining all the revenue. Mohan acknowledges that brand deals and merchandise are essential revenue streams for creators and that YouTube wants to support and enable these opportunities.
The conversation then shifts to the topic of creators finding off-platform opportunities that are content-driven by advertising. Mohan mentions Emma Chamberlain's exclusive podcast deal with Spotify and expresses his preference for her podcast to stay on YouTube since she is a YouTube native. He believes that YouTube should be the place for creators to connect with their audience, whether through vlogs, podcasts, or other content formats. Mohan mentions that YouTube has been investing in podcasting and aims to be the best platform for podcasters as well.
The hosts bring up the recent NFL Sunday Ticket deal, which Mohan confirms as the largest deal in Google history. Mohan expresses his excitement about the partnership and mentions that he personally watches sports and uses YouTube to watch sports highlights. He also addresses the hosts' feedback about being able to watch YouTube videos while watching NFL games on YouTube TV. Mohan agrees that there is no reason why this shouldn't be enabled and mentions that YouTube wants to create a seamless experience for viewers, allowing them to switch between different types of content.
The hosts then discuss the NBA Playmakers program and the potential for creators to create content with NBA content. Mohan mentions that the NBA is a big partner of YouTube and that they have been working with creators and their own content for a long time. He emphasizes the importance of YouTube being the platform where fans can find all the content they want, including live games and creator content.
Towards the end of the podcast, the hosts ask Mohan what he watches on YouTube. Mohan mentions that he watches the hosts' content, as well as other creators that have been featured on the podcast. He also mentions watching sports highlights and listening to music on YouTube.
The hosts conclude the podcast by asking Mohan for his advice if he were the CEO of Colin and Samir. Mohan emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience and building a home base. He believes that creators should focus on what they find fulfilling and continue to engage with their audience. Mohan also mentions the potential impact of AI on the platform and how it could enhance the creation process and audience connection.
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