YouTube co-founder calls for global access to TV online
He said online players such as YouTube were likely to become more aggressive in their pursuit of rights for live sports and events, putting further pressure on national free to air broadcasters and pay TV channels. “I definitely think we are in a global consumer environment now,” Mr Hurley said.
Mr Hurley no longer runs YouTube, but remains a consultant to the company after Google acquired it for $US1.65 billion in late 2006. The company, perhaps more than any other, forced television networks to reconsider their global business models due to the amount of content being shared.
In recent times YouTube has been making a move on sports broadcasting rights, which in many ways have been the lifeblood of pay TV stations. It has taken rights to an array of minor sports around the world, including some Australian basketball matches.
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