Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) is steadily expanding YouTube’s role in the digital-video ecosystem, taking the platform well beyond its traditional creator-driven roots. Live events, news, and connected TV viewing are becoming increasingly important to the business, with the launch of “Trump TV” offering a timely example of that evolution.
The White House launched the 24/7 stream after banning major news organizations from accessing White House press events. It is a White House-produced YouTube stream featuring presidential speeches, administration announcements, archived footage, and selected highlights. In effect, the initiative appears to be a new attempt to utilize YouTube as a direct-to-viewer outlet for live, politically significant programming.