youtube spaces studioThere have been several big pushes by social video sites recently aimed at providing support to content creators and partners -- the biggest of which (of all time, in fact) saw YouTube spending a third of a billion dollars on original channels and accompanying marketing. Amazingly, YouTube doesn't seem satisfied to stop there. It has recently opened multi-scope studio facilities in London and L.A. -- and unlike its original channels venture, which aims a massive amount of resources towards a 1% of already high-profile channel owners, these facilities are open for any and all YouTube partners to use -- and at absolutely no cost to them.

Looks pretty sexy, to be totally honest. But what's in it for YouTube, or Google for that matter? Aren't all-knowing all-powerful greedy mega-corporations supposed to have a different M.O. than this? The YTCreators blog had this to say when they announced the new YouTube Space L.A.:

At YouTube we're only as successful as you, our creators. From our NextUp series and the launch of a new home page focused on your channels, to funding a small group of original channels, our goal remains the same: to help all our creators build big audiences on YouTube.

That’s why we’re thrilled today to announce the opening of YouTube Space Los Angeles -- our flagship collaboration and production facility built for the exclusive use of YouTube partners.

The Space, a 41,000 square foot former helicopter hangar in Playa Vista, is a place where established and emerging creators from our Partner program can work together to cultivate big ideas and ambitious ways to tell their stories. And like the YouTube Space London, YouTube doesn’t charge you any fees for use of the Space or the production equipment that’s housed there.

Considering the spaces and equipment include just about everything you need to create content from back to front -- and it's worth stating one more time, for free -- it doesn't seem like working under the big evil company is all that bad after all. And YouTube's opening statement there, about being only as successful as its creators -- that's crazy in a way, because Google will never go bankrupt due to progressively shoddier workmanship of any one creator's material. At the same time, though, the sentiment (and the Spaces move as a whole) echoes that which struck me about the MotionMaker Fund. No video site wants to be known for just the fluff -- even if that stuff draws a great deal of traffic. YouTube is basically screaming at us, "I want you to use me for high-quality entertainment, and I want to help you do it!"

It's also worth mentioning that in addition to the collaborative and creative advantages such Spaces provide, YouTube is also scheduling workshops and classes, which really rounds out the whole offering. Of course, when all is said and done -- taking a quick peek at what it takes to be a partner -- I may have a bit of an issue with some of the stricter policies being enforced, as they seem overly-limiting for a site attempting raise its profile as a home to quality creative material.

How do the YouTube Spaces strike you, from the looks and sounds of things? Do you feel that this is an important step (not to mention gesture) to make for valuing its creators? What value do you feel all these pro-creator measures YouTube is taking will have, all told? Will it all help to raise the average quality level, or do you think it won't make much of a difference in the end?

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[via TubeFilter]

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