Google Cites Record-Breaking World Cup Views, but Traps YouTube Between Two Futures
The Wednesday quarterly earnings call for Alphabet, the parent company of Google, created tough questions for the future of YouTube, which seems pulled in two very different directions at once. Most of the investor-facing discussion was all Gemini AI, all the time, but when the talk turned to Google’s big streaming service, I noticed several contradictions.
First, YouTube views are booming, especially when it comes to current events. Google reported that 1.7 billion users watched World Cup-related videos on YouTube this year, making it the most-viewed World Cup in YouTube’s history. The company also discussed a new campaign with Gen Z creators like Ellie Thumann and Hannah Meloche to create exclusive content on YouTube, aimed at growing interest in the streaming platform among younger, TikTok-inclined crowds.
However, the earnings call also discussed plans that could put YouTube at jeopardy. Specifically, CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned the company is “bringing...
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