Since Google bought YouTube many years ago, there hasn't been a single worthwhile competitor, and we doubt that will change any time soon. However, ex Hulu CEO Jason Kilar is making moves to release his own social video website, and it is both a competitor to YouTube and a companion.
The new website is called Vessel, and the main difference to YouTube is that the website won't focus on previously created content and random videos of folks recording a baby laughing or a deer getting hit by a car. Vessel is mainly designed for the top creators at YouTube who are looking to make some extra cash on the side.
From what we have come to understand, not everyone will be able to watch videos on Vessel, since the social video website requires a fee of $2.99. You see, videos posted on Vessel are for folks who are interested in an early access program where they get the option to watch something 3-days before everyone else.
"Despite the many positive things that the Internet has made possible in media, to date there hasn't been a clear path for most of these talented creators to build sustainable, enduring businesses on the basis of their video storytelling alone," according to Vessel's blog. "We believe that media can, and should, do much better."
We're not certain how many YouTube creators are capable of creating contents that are worthy of an early access program, though we do believe this is a decent enough idea. It will only work for those content creators who deliver quality videos on a regular basis, and it will all boil down to the amount of fans who are unable wait three days to watch the next best thing.
So far, Vessel has amassed over $75 million in funding, reasons for Google to feel at least a bit threatened. However, only time will tell if Vessel is good enough to give YouTube a run for its money. Furthermore, we can forget that Yahoo is working on its own competitor, so there is another for Google to keep an eye on should Vessel fail in its bid.
