Reportedly ready to invest $100 million in original content, YouTube (NSDQ: GOOG) is adding a new UK content partnerships head and a new film head for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Former ITV (LSE: ITV) online director Ben McOwen Wilson will take the former role (replacing Donagh O’Malley, who is now with Google TV), while ProSiebenSat.1’s Alexander Goethel takes up the latter, C21 reported first and YouTube confirmed to paidContent:UK. Patrick Walker, GooTube’s EMEA partnerships head, remains in place.
YouTube carries UK catch-up TV from Channel 4 and Channel 5 plus a low-grade selection of on-demand movies – surely just a stake in the ground for larger ambitions.
Last month, YouTube purchased Next New Networks, which produces a number of web shows.
YouTube tells paidContent:UK it’s “ramping up our hiring”: “We have stated that we will be hiring a number of people in line with the growth of YouTube.”
Separately, Vevo is adding Channel 5 digital head Jonathan Lewis as its UK managing director for its imminent launch there, MediaWeek reports.