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TOGETHER WITH |
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It's Wednesday and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos admitted YouTube is not just a "bunch of cat videos" and in fact is "a straightforward direct competitor for television." But he's only saying that because he thinks E.U. policymakers should crack down on YouTube the same way they do Netflix and TV broadcasters. |
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Today's News |
⚽ YouTube and FIFA's World Cup plans 🪑 How to get out of debt (and become a YouTuber) 🎬 Google commits to microdramas 👹 Creators capitalize on KPop Demon Hunters 🏆 Karsten Runquist's Oscars postmortem
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YOUTUBE WORLD CUP |
 | A glimpse of YouTube on the big field. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) |
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YouTube is officially a "Preferred Platform" for the 2026 FIFA World Cup |
The deal: With less than 100 days to go until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, soccer fans have unlocked a convenient new way to watch the beautiful game. |
On YouTube, a selection of official "Media Partners" will gain access to live match broadcast rights, behind-the-scenes footage, and content from the FIFA vault throughout the grueling 39-day tournament to crown the world's current best team. |
By becoming a Preferred Platform, YouTube turns into a one-stop shop for official footballing content. FIFA's YouTube channel will be stocked with classic moments, Media Partners will be able to stream the first ten minutes of all matches on the platform , and certain games will be available for the full 90 minutes on YouTube. |
"Together with FIFA and the tournament's official media partners, we're giving a global cohort of YouTube creators unparalleled access to matches and more. They won't just be reacting to the game, they'll bring a fresh perspective to the FIFA World Cup including human stories, tactical breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes action that further brings to life the legendary tournament as it unfolds." | | | | —YouTube |
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It's not just YouTube: The hubbub that is expected to surround the 2026 World Cup has convinced other platforms and major brands to get involved however they can, too. TikTok already announced its own broadcasting partnership with FIFA. Meanwhile, for some soccer-conscious companies, star-studded creator lineups are the path forward. |
Other World Cup integrations are even more eclectic. Lay's, for example, just announced the launch of an official World Cup group chat on WhatsApp. |
Across all these deals, one thing is clear: Everyone is ready to play ball. |
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The only tool you need to create AI videos has arrived. Say hello to Agent Opus Story Mode: |
Agent Opus Story Mode is the only tool you need to create full-length, social media-ready AI videos. |
With Story Mode, you can create content in any style you upload, choose from preset styles, or turn audio files into videos. Here's how it works: |
1. Describe your custom style or choose from a preset style
Choose from an array of trending styles, upload an image reference, or describe your vision to Agent Opus to generate your own custom style. |
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2. Plug in your own audio or written script
Upload a voice note, podcast clip, script, lecture, or song—the possibilities are endless. |
3. Choose an aspect ratio and hit 'create'
The result: a polished video that carries your personal style consistently throughout every scene. |
Top brands and creators are already leveraging Agent Opus Story Mode. Now, it's your turn. |
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HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰 |
 | Kara Ward DIY'd her way out of debt (and onto Dave Ramsey's podcast). |
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GOOGLE MICRODRAMAS |
 | Presumably the filming of a particularly steamy microdrama. |
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Can Google do what Quibi could not? |
The slate: YouTube doesn't do much (if any) original content production these days, but that isn't stopping parent Google from getting into an uber-trendy format through another of its arms. |
100 Zeros, the production company Google quietly launched in May of last year with talent management firm/production studio Range Media Partners, already had plans to make both scripted and unscripted films and TV shows. |
Now, its slate includes microdramas. |
Google and Range Media Partners have agreed to produce dozens of vertical projects, including series from American Idol's Simor Fuller, Charlie's Angels director McG, Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson, and The Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss. |
The trend: These bite-size stories are, of course, the result of Google chasing a major trend. Are we surprised? Not at all. If anyone knows exactly how much attention short-form content is eating up, it's Google. |
We're also not surprised Google has another motive with 100 Zeros' projects. Per Business Insider, one of the initiative's ultimate goals is to get more creatives using Google's tech products (including generative AI), and get more young people thinking those same products are #cool. |
Do we think this will go well? Maybe! But Quibi tried the ultra-produced short-form thing before and it did not go well, while millions of creators make their livings filming lo-fi, heartfelt videos and do just fine. Can Google--and the other Hollywood moguls, tech giants, and brands trying to cram themselves into this latest trend--compete? |
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HONMOONTUBE |
 | We have Huntr/x at home. |
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GiggleGalaxyTV is making waves thanks to the KPop Demon Hunters bump |
The idols: KPop Demon Hunters had a bit of a rocky time at the Oscars. The Netflix-hosted phenomenon won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, but not only did the real-life versions of HUNTR/X have to perform a truncated version of their winning track "Golden," the songwriters behind the track were unceremoniously cut off from giving a speech to celebrate their victory. |
Fans, of course, are in a tizzy—but they're not letting this moment dim their enthusiasm for Demon Hunters itself. That's especially true on YouTube, where some uberfans have turned their channels into veritable shrines for the film—a move that's paying off in bumped views. |
In this week's Top 50 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Worldwide, our Senior Editor Sam Gutelle zeroes in on GiggleGalaxyTV, a channel whose hosts have spent months dressing up as KPop Demon Hunters' main characters. This week alone, the channel scooped up 481.4 million views, a 44% week-over-week increase that put it up to spot #22. |
Channels like this one present an interesting "chicken or egg" situation. Which came first: The global phenomenon that is KPop Demon Hunters, or the YouTube videos that celebrate the film's characters, storylines, and musical tracks? The obvious answer is that the film's positive reception made it a YouTube favorite. | | | | — Tubefilter's very own Sam Gutelle |
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Here's another way to put it: If the Academy won't give the "Golden" songwriters more than a few seconds to accept their award, channels like GiggleGalaxyTV will ensure that the win is celebrated for years to come. |
Check out this week's full Top 50 lineup right here. |
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WATCH THIS 👀 |
 | Not all is golden at the Oscars. |
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Speaking of the Oscars… |
The postmortem: The good, the bad, the funny, the unfunny, and also that Sinners performance, which is in a supreme category all its own. |
The 2025 award season felt particularly long, with the actual Oscars ceremony falling later in the year than usual, but now it is officially over. If you didn't have time to catch the show, spare ten minutes for this very thorough postmortem from Karsten Runquist. |
As one commenter puts it, "Can't believe Timothée Chalamet ran up on stage and challenged Michael B. Jordan to a ping pong rematch." |
Did that actually happen? Is it all a fever dream? Are we living in a simulation? Tune in to find out. |
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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, James Hale, and Josh Cohen. |
