YouTube Red orders more originals

YouTube has ordered multiple new series for its Red subscription service, spanning sci-fi, eSports, competition, kids and family content.

The commissions include Lifeline, a drama executive produced by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson that YouTube’s global head of original content Susanne Daniels teased at Mipcom last year.

The show, produced by Studio 71 and Seven Bucks Productions, is about a life insurance company that sends its agents into the future to prevent the accidental deaths of its clients.

The Google-owned firm has also confirmed a series order for scripted comedy Good Game, from US prodco Starburns Industries, which follows a group of eSports players who team up to become superstars.

Unscripted competition series Lace Up: The Ultimate Sneaker Challenge, meanwhile, follows aspiring footwear creators from around the world who battle it out to create the next great sneaker.

It comes from producer Ken Mok (America’s Next Top Model) and will be hosted by YouTube celebrity Adande Thorne.

Targeting kids and family, Furze World Wonders (10×30′) stars YouTuber Colin Furze, who is known for creating impressive inventions in his backyard, and is being produced by Canada’s 9 Story Media Group.

The live-action series marks 9 Story’s first production for YouTube Red and will also be made available to subscribers via YouTube Kids, the firm’s dedicated service for children.

The commissions are joined by two new scripted comedies, Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television and Do You Want to See a Dead Body?, which are set to debut this fall.

YouTube Red has also recommissioned new seasons of its original series Escape the Night, Foursome, Rhett & Link’s Buddy System, Mind Field and Fight of the Living Dead.

The SVoD service is currently available in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea.

The commissions were announced during YouTube’s presentation at VidCon in Anaheim, where the company also unveiled its latest push into virtual reality with the new video format VR180.