Google (GOOGL 0.69%) has just taken its plans to disrupt traditional TV to the next level, Fool contributor Tim Beyers says in the following video.
How so? CEO Larry Page recently named Susan Wojcicki as chief executive of YouTube, the streaming video channel that serves more than 1 billion active users monthly. At least one estimate quoted at Wired says the service was responsible for $5 billion in revenue last year. Impressive, but also tiny compared to the more than $60 billion spent on TV advertising in the U.S. alone.
Google seems determined to change the dynamic, and has tasked longtime ad boss Wojcicki with figuring out how to tip the scales in its favor. One potential approach, Tim says, would be to figure out ways to get newer channels up and earning revenue fast. As it stands now, YouTube seems to be a business for a few privileged operators and a hobby for the remainder.
Do you agree? How do you rate Wojcicki's chances of turning YouTube into a legitimate rival to traditional TV? Please watch the video to get Tim's full take and then leave a comment to let us know whether you would buy, sell, or short Google stock at current prices.
