Play On! YouTube Channels get more into action sports

From trick shots and game clips to commentary and live events, sports has always been one of the most popular categories on YouTube. We want to bring you even more sports Channels to get into, so we’re kicking off a new lineup of action sports Channels that bring great original content to you:
  • Alli Sports: Whether you want tips from your favorite athlete on how to pull off their signature trick, a behind the curtain look into the lives of the biggest and fastest rising stars in the sports, or news and highlights from the industries most insightful analysts, The Alli Show, Step by Step, Inside AlliSports, AWSM on Alli and Frends Crew, are just a few of the shows on Alli Sports that will keep you up to speed on the latest and greatest moves and news in the industry.
  • Network A: Network A features some of the most amazing performances and personalities in the history of action sports. Want to see the best tricks and segments from some of the best athletes and filmmakers from around the world? You've come to the right place. In the coming weeks, new shows, new Channels, and an unprecedented level of access to action sports pros will be added. Stay tuned!
  • Red Bull: The Red Bull Channel is bringing 13 new original episodic series that will chronicle the competition and daily lives of the world’s best action sports athletes including urban mountain biker and YouTube celebrity, Danny MacAskill, skateboarding pro Ryan Sheckler, action sports phenom Travis Pastrana and big wave surfer Jamie O’Brien. You’ll also be able to find new episodes of other popular series starting with the first episode of Livin’ Louie Vito that explores the life of professional snowboarder Louie Vito.
  • RIDE: Brought to you by Tony Hawk, RIDE is a 24-hour Channel devoted to the skateboarding lifestyle that will feature Hawk, Skatepark of Tampa, Jamie Thomas and Lance Krall among others. On “Tony Hawk’s Dissent,” subscribers will have behind-the-scenes access as Tony hangs out with different celebrities. Viewers can also get into the game with shows like “Shredit Cards,” where skaters upload their own skate videos and earn shopping passes based on the degree of difficulty and “One in a Million,” where amateur skateboarders will compete to become sponsored.


Because it’s YouTube, you can program a lineup of your favorite action sports Channels — that way you won’t miss a trick, highlight or interview. Just subscribe to the Channels you like, and get the latest episodes delivered right to your YouTube homepage. Tell us what Channels you’ll be dropping into your YouTube guide in the comments below!

Tim Katz, Strategic Partner Development Manager, recently watched “Surfer Almost Swallowed by Whale.”

Get Ready for a Grand Slam with Live Tennis on YouTube

The Australian Open Series is in full swing, and tennis fans around the world can catch loads of the action this year on YouTube. Tennis Australia is making the series more accessible than ever before by offering full-length match replays, as well as loads of training footage and player interviews.

This week we’ve got live streaming from the Australian Open Qualifying Tournament, and today you can also catch the live Australian Open draw featuring tennis legend John McEnroe.

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There will be a slew of of on-demand footage from the full Australian Open Series, including the Brisbane International , Sydney International, Hobart International and the Adelaide World Tennis Challenge. This will include match highlights, player press conferences, and perhaps — a few shirtless training sessions.

And if you are feeling nostalgic, you can recap all the Open action from the past decade through the Archive Playlist on the Australian Open YouTube channel.

Last year saw some fun moments like a dead spot in Hisense Arena and John McEnroe with his pants down, so stay tuned to see what this year will bring!

Richard North, YouTube Partner Manager, recently watched "Shaark!"

Professional Bull Riding comes to YouTube

Over the last 20 years, Professional Bull Riders have turned a classic sport into a global league with more than 100 million fans tuning in from around the world. Now you can follow PBR on their YouTube Channel, for livestreamed events as well as original programming, interviews, highlights and your videos.

You can catch livestreamed events on:
  • January 6 from Madison Square Garden in NYC
  • April 21 from Des Moines, Iowa
  • April 28 from Uncasville, Connecticut
  • May 5 from Billings, Montana
  • May 18 from Pueblo, Colorado
  • And more to come
To get you ready to ride, here’s a quick look at the 2011 season:



See you in 2012!

Frank Golding, Director of Pro Sports & Leagues, YouTube Sports, recently watched “2011 Built Ford Tough World Finals highlights.”

ESPN’s SportsNation is on the recruiting trail

Sports fanatics have taken to YouTube to voice their opinions as part of ESPN SportsNation Fanalyst campaign, where you have the chance to be on SportsNation every Friday. We have this week’s question and invite your feedback, as you could be selected as the Fanalyst of the Week online and on-air.

This week's playbook calls for your well-informed, 15-second analysis on if Tom Brady is a lock to win the NFL’s MVP award. That's right: we're two weeks into the 2011 NFL season and already the New England Patriots QB seems like everyone’s runaway favorite for the NFL’s top honor. Only the most original take on the Brady Bandwagon will win Fanalyst of the Week honors, so let’s see what you’ve got.



The Sports Nation Fanalyst Contest presented by Toyota (contest rules here) will continue throughout the year, so return every Monday to SportsNationESPN to get the weekly topic from hosts Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd, and grab your 15 Seconds of Fanalyst Fame!

Brendan McGovern, Interactive Producer, recently watched “Could Tony Romo Lead Dallas To The Superbowl?

Hometown love for the SF Giants

Since the postseason win and ensuing celebration of the World Champion San Francisco Giants last year, we’ve seen many more shades of orange and black around the YouTube office. We’ve even seen a growth of beards inspired by “certified ninjaBrian Wilson.

So when Showtime said they’d be airing the first episode of The Franchise for a limited time on YouTube, we wanted to share our excitement with you. Check it out:



There’s a lot to love about baseball—fans, highlights and rituals—and after a 56 year wait for a trophy, we’re still celebrating!

Elizabeth Ferdon, YouTube Content Partnerships, just watched “Willie Mays on AirForce One.”

Let’s get ready for some GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLLLSSSS!

Last month we promised you access to the Copa America, and tonight it all kicks off.

Today, South America’s biggest international tournament, the Copa America, begins live on YouTube. Tonight’s opening game starts at 5:45pm PT / 9:45pm ART and pits Argentina against Bolivia. Here’s a full schedule of the first round of the tournament:


The Copa America will be broadcast in HD on YouTube in 50 countries at www.youtube.com/copaamerica. If you’re on the move, you can follow the matches on your mobile phone at m.youtube.com/copaamerica. Commentary of the matches will be broadcast in both English or Spanish depending on what country you’re tuning in from.

We hope you enjoy the beautiful game.

Ricardo Blanco, YouTube Latin America, recently watched “Copa America Live on YouTube.”

Live Soccer on YouTube: the 2011 Copa America Tournament

The beautiful game, as played by some of the world's best players, is coming to YouTube this summer.

Streamed to more than 50 countries around the world, the 2011 Copa America - the South American national soccer tournament that comes around every 4 years - will be broadcast live from Argentina on YouTube, July 1 - 24. Arguably the most important global sporting event of the year, the 2011 Copa will feature the 10 South American national teams and two guest teams, Mexico and Costa Rica, battling for continental soccer supremacy.

On the Copa America channel at youtube.com/copaamerica, soccer fans will have access to all 26 matches including pool play, semi-finals, quarter-finals and the championship match, live streaming as they happen with exclusive-to-YouTube commentary, as well as a highlights from all the matches, goal compilations, full-game uploads and more.

Taking place across eight Argentine host cities, this year's tournament will prominently feature Brazil and Argentina, soccer-mad nations who have won seven of the 19 FIFA World Cups and are talent factories of the best players in the world. Uruguay, Paraguay and Mexico are also stalwarts of the international soccer landscape, with an enviable pool of young talents. The list of players expected to compete is an all-star roster representing household-name professional teams, including Diego Milito (Argentina, Inter Milan), Robinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Athletico Madrid), and dozens more world class footballers.

Not to mention the player Argentines call "la pulga" ("the flea') - Lionel Messi. Messi is the two-time FIFA Player of the Year who has a list of honors and trophies, including this year's UEFA Champions League title. He is still only 23 years old (!) and looking to add a Copa to his résumé.

The three week competition starts on July 1, with Messi and Argentina meeting Bolivia in La Plata. To whet your appetite for great soccer, starting today on www.youtube.com/copaamerica you can find video from past tournaments, including great goals from the 2007 edition.

Precise touch passing, perfectly-weighted crosses, ball-glued-to-the-foot dribbling, artistic creativity and flair, thumping mid-air collisions, astonishing displays of speed and skill, and likely some controversial moments: all facets of the planet's most popular sport will be on display on Copa America 2011 on YouTube: don't miss it!

Andrew Bangs, YouTube Sports, recently watched "El Clasico Animation Barcelona vs Real Madrid."