After years of claiming more than 1 billion monthly users, YouTube now says that it reaches 1.5 billion logged-in viewers each month. CEO Susan Wojcicki made the announcement Thursday during her annual presentation at VidCon, the online video conference that happens in Anaheim every summer. She also disclosed that YouTube viewers spend an average of more than one hour each day watching YouTube videos on their mobile devices.
YouTube, which in late 2015 launched a subscription streaming platform called Red, has been mum about subscribers’ viewership on the platform, but on Thursday afternoon, the company disclosed that its first 37 original series and movies have generated nearly 250 million views.
“We are excited about working with creators to help them create incredible content that delights their fans,” said Wojcicki. YouTube has 12 new projects in the works for Red, including comedies from Rob Huebel and Ryan Hansen.
Other big announcements during the VidCon keynote, in which Wojcicki was interviewed onstage by online creators Rhett & Link, included the launch of a new video format for 180-degree videos. The feature is seen as a less-expensive step to creating full 360-degree videos.
YouTube is also making its live TV bundle, called YouTube TV, available in more markets. The service, which launched in April in select markets including New York and Los Angeles, will soon be available in 10 new cities, including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Phoenix.
