If you’re looking for choice when it comes to the presidential debates, then be prepared to be spoiled rotten by YouTube. Not to be outdone by the likes of Facebook and Twitter, Google’s video platform is now offering more live-streams of the main event than ever before.
YouTube has tapped PBS, Fox News, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and Telemundo to host live-streams of the debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on its service. The move marks a notable expansion from its previous exclusive live-streaming partnership with ABC at the time of the 2012 presidential debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Staying with the live theme, a number of YouTube channels will be sharing YouTube Live videos from the debates, including The Young Turks and Complex News.
The extended coverage ties into the platform’s newly launched #voteIRL campaign, aimed at encouraging younger viewers to vote. As part of the campaign, YouTube creators and celebs will be sharing short clips that last just 1 minute and 34 seconds (the time it takes to register to vote). A number of related videos have already been uploaded, including a clip featuring Ryan Seacrest, and a #voteIRL promo starring YouTube stars Bethany Mota, Hannah Hart, Kingsley, and Hank Green. More videos from the likes of Awesomeness TV, Fullscreen, Machinima, and Maker Studios are set to follow, all the way up until National Voter Registration Day.
YouTube claims election-related content has exploded in popularity on its platform. Over 200,000 election videos have been uploaded to YouTube every day since the national conventions in July, and viewers have watched over 110 million hours of candidate and issues-related coverage on the service.
Cord-cutters now have a number of viewing options when it comes to the presidential debates, which kick off on Monday September 26. Alongside YouTube, fellow web giants Twitter and Facebook are hosting their own live-streams courtesy of Bloomberg and ABC respectively.
