YouTube takes a shot at streamers with ‘Jeopardy!’ move
YouTube takes a shot at streamers with ‘Jeopardy!’ move
The social video platform isn’t sitting still as on-demand streamers adopt more and more of its most popular facets.
“Jeopardy!” is such a hot property that a legal battle commenced over where the show’s vast library of episodes would air on linear channels. Episodes of the series stream on Hulu and Peacock, however, thanks to a deal announced in June 2025.
Until now, YouTube has mostly had to make do with clips from the show while it watches other streamers battle it out for full-length episodes of the show. But now, YouTube is getting in on the action for itself; as reported by Deadline, YouTube will offer its own exclusive version of “Jeopardy!” as it attempts to fight back against the trend of on-demand streamers adopting vertical video, podcasts, and other facets of creator-generated platforms.
Ken Jennings will host “Jeopardy!” YouTube Edition, which will air on March 31 on the show’s YouTube channel. YouTube creators Monét X Change, Rebecca Black, and Brennan Lee Mulligan will compete in the episode. It’s a key part of a larger expansion of the “Jeopardy!” channel’s offerings on the platform.
“Blurring the lines between a traditional broadcast format and a new era of digital consumption results in something that’s fun for both new fans and old ones,” YouTube executive Kevin Allocca said. “Seeing ‘Jeopardy!’ intersect with YouTube creators underscores how the two can amplify each other in ways that feel surprisingly authentic and are a testament to the enduring relevance of these formats.”
YouTube has already done a good job blurring lines in the way Allocca refers to in his statement. Recent research from Hub showed that 64% of viewers aged 16 to 34 either see YouTube as more of a TV network/streaming service, or as equally a TV/streaming platform and creator/social video platform. Only 36% of viewers in this age group primarily think of YouTube as a social/creator site, and the number inches up to just 40% among viewers 35+.
Now, it’s making an even more aggressive move into programming that has traditionally been only available on linear TV and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services. It’s an escalation in the growing war between YouTube and traditional streamers that has seen many SVODs adopt some of the most popular facets of creator platforms.
The latest craze for on-demand streamers has been to add vertical video feeds for customers to scroll. Disney+ launched its short video scroll earlier in March, and Netflix, Paramount+, and others have announced plans to bring the feature to their services as well. Disney just saw a major deal with OpenAI fall through, a move that has — for the moment, anyway — put a halt to Disney’s ambitions of turning its streaming service into a user-generated content platform.
Streamers have also been pulling content directly from YouTube in the form of video podcasts. Netflix has licensed a number of major podcasts from iHeart and Spotify, many of which can now only stream their video versions on that platform. That was a direct shot across YouTube’s bow, as previously these podcasts drew thousands of views per episode to the platform.
What other traditionally linear/streaming assets might YouTube pursue? There’s a pretty good chance that the service makes a play for the NFL’s available game inventory as that league begins negotiating with TV partners for more money ahead of the 2026 season. YouTube streamed the NFL's Week 1 game from Brazil in 2025, and the experiment went well enough for both sides that we fully expect YouTube to be a major player for NFL rights going forward.
The way viewers are consuming video is continuing to evolve, but Nielsen data continues to show that YouTube has the upper hand over every other individual on-demand service. Streamers are doing everything they can to counter YouTube’s advantage, but the platform is fighting back by pulling a well-known legacy television brand into the digital space in a new and unique way.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.