YouTube Unveils New Creator Shows at 2026 Brandcast as It Declares Itself TV

9 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · May 14

Trevor Noah, Alex Cooper, Dude Perfect and other creators fronted a new YouTube programming slate at Brandcast, with the company pitching advertisers on shows they can buy into directly.
Neal Mohan used the upfront to declare a “YouTube era,” arguing the platform has moved beyond digital video into a dominant TV destination on living-room screens.
New projects included Jesser’s “Pros vs. YouTubers,” Quen Blackwell’s “Feeding Starving Celebrities 2.0,” Kareem Rahma’s “Keep the Meter Running” and multiple Unwell Network series from Cooper.
The slate mixed digital-native creators with established stars such as Dwyane Wade and Erling Haaland, reinforcing YouTube’s claim that both audiences and talent now choose the platform over legacy TV.
Brandcast also featured ad-tech and shopping tools announced earlier, including two-click Google Pay purchases on TV, as YouTube pressed media buyers to shift more ad dollars its way.

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