YouTube Gives Users Their 15 Minutes

Musicians, comedians, and fans of viral video rejoice! YouTube has extended video length from 10 mins to a hefty 15 minutes. According to YouTube’s blog, the reasoning behind the five minute extension is due to the site’s improved Content ID system.

“Now, all of the major U.S. movie studios, music labels and over 1,000 other global partners use Content ID to manage their content on YouTube. Because of the success of these ongoing technological efforts, we are able to increase the upload limit today. We will continue our strong commitment to provide advanced technology and tools to protect the rights of small and large copyright owners worldwide.”

With improved copyright protection technology in place, YouTube can encourage more big name content providers to post on the site. It’s a good thing too. As Hulu and other media streaming sites gain an increasing amount of traction, YouTube has been looking for ways to keep users engaged for a longer amount of time. Last year they rolled out their movie rental service, which has been slow to catch on, but it’s beginning to pick up speed.

In celebration of the new time limit, YouTube is launching a contest to give users their 15 minutes. Interested parties simply have to upload their 15 minute video and and tag it with “yt15minutes” by August 4. YouTube will choose a few lucky people to feature on the homepage.

YouTube is famous for being a motley crew of content. From how-tos to practical jokes you can find it nestled in YouTube’s enormous archive. The only question that remains is will the content improve or will it be business as usual in the house that viral video built.

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.