Author Archives: Aaron Canada

#YouTubeRewind 2015: Canada’s top trending videos

The awakening of the Force after 10 long years, a much-anticipated Hello from an old musical friend, and the question on everyone’s mind -- these were some of the YouTube moments that captivated Canadians in 2015. We laughed, we cried and we did our best Whip/Nae Nae a bajillion times. Oh - and we celebrated a very important 10th birthday!

But before we call it a wrap on the year in YouTube, let’s take a look at the videos Canadians shared, liked, parodied and talked about in 2015.

Top Trending Videos in Canada

The Top Trending Videos shot to the top of the “must-watch” list as Canadians shared, liked and watched again and again. YouTube is the white hot centre of pop culture, where fans, pranksters, tiny tots and scientists can share their voice and talent no matter where they are from or what their age or point of view.


Top Trending Music Videos in Canada for 2015

It's a fact that music videos are the one of, if not the, most viewed and searched for online video content. 2015 saw artists turn to music videos to tell stories with longer narratives, revive the classic ‘dance’ video, and to show off their star-studded squad. 2015’s top 10 music videos were collectively played over 6.8 billion times from channels with 73+ million subscribers.


2015 Canadian Year-end YouTube Ads Leaderboard

Since YouTube launched skippable ads five years ago, ads have gone from something you fast forward to something you choose to watch. This year’s top trending ads demonstrate that brands are now developing ads that are meant to entertain and inspire, not just persuade.


Top Trending Trailer Videos in Canada for 2015

Before millions of people go to the movies, they turn to YouTube. When it comes to highly anticipated films, like the new Star Wars or latest Avengers installment, trailers have become more than just a fun way to hook audiences on the story, they have become an essential tool to engage a loyal fan base.


And that’s just what made it to the top of Canada’s list - you can check out which videos made the global list of top trending videos at www.youtube.ca/rewind.

Posted by Jenn Kaiser, Communications Manager, YouTube Canada.

Music for everything that you do

Music for everything you do


Need some music right now to make whatever you’re doing better? If you’re not already a Google Play Music subscriber, we’ve got you covered. Google Play Music now has a free, ad-supported streaming service in Canada, giving you a new way to find just the right music at just the right moment. From fist-pumping, Canadian flag-raising party tune sing-alongs for the proud hoser in you to the Canadian hip hop scene before Aubrey Graham became Drake, Google Play Music has the perfect soundtrack for whatever you’re feeling.



Our team of music experts — including our rock star Canadian team — crafts each station song by song so you don’t have to. If you’re looking for something specific, you can browse our curated stations by genre, mood, decade or activity. You can also search for your favourite artist, album or song to instantly create a station of similar music. We have the perfect tune for cruising around Mile End in Montreal, hiking in Vancouver or pre-gaming before a night out with friends in Toronto.


And, today, we’re excited to invite all of our Songza users to join us on Google Play Music, where everything you love about Songza is available for free.


Podcasts


Google Play Music helps connect people with the perfect soundtrack for whatever they’re doing. But what if that same technology and curation could help connect people with great podcasts based on their mood or interest—something to make them laugh, get lost in a story or learn something new? We thought that would be awesome, so today we’re announcing that we plan to start offering podcasts on Google Play Music, giving podcasters access to millions of new listeners on Android phones and tablets.


To that end, today we’re launching a portal for podcasters to start uploading their shows to Google Play Music before we open up the service to listeners in the coming months. Along with direct searches and browsing for podcasts, the service will connect new listeners with podcasts based on what they’re doing, how they’re feeling, or what they’re interested in. Similar to our contextual playlists for music, this will give podcast fans and new listeners a way of finding and listening to content that’s unique to Google Play Music. Podcasters in Canada will soon be able to upload shows now at g.co/podcastportal.




We hope you’ll enjoy these experiences so much that you’ll consider subscribing to Google Play Music to play without ads, take your music offline, create your own playlists, and listen to any of the 30 million songs in our library on any device and as much as you’d like. You’ll also get ad-free, offline and background features for music videos on YouTube. And with or without a subscription, you can store and play up to 50,000 songs from your own collection for free.

Posted by Peter Asbill, Product Manager, Google Play Music

Welcome the newest member of our family: the YouTube Kids app launches in Canada


For years Canadian families have turned to YouTube to ask questions, explore the world around them, and be entertained from nursery rhymes to the shows we love.  And today people have spent more hours watching Wheels on the Bus on YouTube, than Psy’s Gangnam Style!

Today, we’re launching YouTube Kids in Canada - an app built with parents and children in mind that makes it easier for kids to find videos on topics they want to explore. Since we launched YouTube Kids in the US, it’s been downloaded more than 10 million times by families who rate it among the top kids apps available. This local version of YouTube Kids puts the content we love in Canada front and centre - think  Wild Kratts at the touch of a button and Treehouse Direct on hand to answer tricky questions from curious minds. It’s our first step in reimagining YouTube for families and it’s now available to download for free on Google Play and the App Store. Here are some of the key features:

Bright and playful design
Your 4-year-old may already be a swiping expert, but the app’s design makes it even easier for little thumbs to navigate with larger images and bold icons. And we’ve built in voice search so that even if your child can’t spell or type, they can still find videos of things they’re curious about.

Family-focused content
We’ve built the YouTube Kids app to be a safer version of YouTube, a family-friendly place for kids to explore their imagination and curiosity. You can browse channels and playlists in four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore. Your favourite shows like Teletubbies, HooplaKidz, Thomas the Tank Engine, and National Geographic Kids are in YouTube Kids. You’ll also find popular content from Canadian producers and broadcasters such as Kids' CBC, Super Simple Songs and TVO Kids.

Parental controls
We’ve built options into the app that help you control the experience for your kids and put parents in the driving seat.
  • Learn how the app works: When parents open YouTube Kids, they learn upfront how our systems choose and recommend content and how to flag videos. We always try to make the videos available in the app family-friendly, but no system is perfect. So if you ever find a video you’re concerned about, please flag it. This helps make YouTube Kids better for everyone.
  • Search settings: We’ll also prompt you to make a choice about how broadly you want your child to explore - turn search on to access millions of family-friendly videos, or turn search off to restrict your child’s experience to a more limited set. Either way, parents decide the right experience for their family from the get-go.
  • Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that lets you limit kids’ screen time. The app alerts your child when the session is over, so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome. ;)
  • Sound settings: Sometimes you need a little peace and quiet! You have an option to turn off background music and sound effects, so your kids can keep watching while you catch a breath.
  • Custom passcode: Parents have the ability to set their own passcode, and to access settings and other parental information in the app.
  • Logged out experience: The app is currently a signed-out experience with no ties to an account. We’ve also removed all features that are linked to an account like uploading, sharing, liking, etc.

YouTube Kids on the big screen:
You can now also watch YouTube Kids as a family on your big screen using Chromecast, Apple TV, game consoles or a smartTV.

We’re so excited to bring YouTube Kids to Canada, and look forward to your ideas too so that we can better help your family explore, learn and sing along. From our family to yours, happy exploring!
Angela Y. Lin, Head of Kids and Learning for North America, YouTube, recently watched “The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain”

Kooky or spooky: Halloween’s Hottest Trends on YouTube

Halloween is a just few days away, which means it’s officially crunch time to finish your costume. If you’ve waited until the last minute to pick a Halloween outfit, you’re not alone. Fifty per cent of costume and decoration searches in Canada happen within 5 days of Halloween.

YouTube is the ultimate Halloween destination from pumpkin carving tips to decorations and clever ideas on what to do with your leftover Halloween candy... and of course costume ideas. And with costumes like Harley Quinn, Minions, Donald Trump, Star Wars, Max Max and Left Shark topping the search charts on Google in Canada this year, expect a lot superheroes, cartoons and pop culture icons trick-or-treating at your door.

Tune into some of your favourite Canadian YouTube channels for tutorials featuring 2015’s most popular costumes, plus last minute costumes you can throw together in mere minutes to make this October 31st the spookiest yet.


The Sorry Girls: Harley Quinn
Friends Kelsey and Becky started their YouTube channel while attending university together five years ago. Since then The Sorry Girls have become a destination for DIY and the latest style in home and fashion. This Halloween, they have tutorials for two of the year’s most searched Halloween costumes, Harley Quinn and Furiosa from Mad Max. Find out how you can channel the thrill and chaos of fury road and one of this year’s biggest blockbuster hits.
Procrastinator Tip: Don’t have much time to put together a costume before Saturday? You can also check out The Sorry Girls’ quick and easy last minute costume ideas, mainly made up of items from around your house!


LaurDIY: Baymax
Canada’s DIY darling LaurDIY has a ton of costume tutorials up her sleeve for her fans including the adorable Baymax, a top searched costume this year. The Toronto native started her channel from her dorm room in 2012, and has been spreading glitter and joy to fans ever since - all 2.5 million of them!

Chelsimadonna: Josie and the Pussycats
Looking for a group costume with your friends this Halloween? Newfoundlander Chelsi is kicking it ‘old school’ this year with a Josie and the Pussycats group costume tutorial. As a singer herself, needless to say, Chelsi pulls off this look!
CutePolish: Halloween Nail Art
Dressing up not your thing? Sandi of CutePolish - the #1 nail art channel on YouTube - has the ultimate playlist for Halloween nail art. From skeletons to candy corn, this Windsor, Ontario creative has nail art designs for you, whether you’re looking for something spooky or sweet.
We hope these YouTubers' tutorials can help make this Halloween your best yet. Use their tricks and share some of your own to make the most of this weekend, and have a happy Halloween!

Posted by Jenn Kaiser, Communications Manager, YouTube Canada.

Buffer Festival: Tune in to meet your favourite YouTube stars live – in person or online!

Editor’s Note: Today’s guest blog post is from our friends at Buffer Festival 2015. 
Ten years have now passed since the first YouTube video was uploaded - an 18-second clip about how cool elephants are shot at the San Diego Zoo. Today YouTube has grown to become the biggest video platform on the web, and fans have turned creators into the biggest names in entertainment.
As long as most of us can remember, celebrities have existed in a separate world; fans can admire from afar, but any meaningful interaction is strictly off-limits. For the third year, Buffer Festival shows us how celebrity criteria has changed in the past decade and the value of meaningful, authentic engagement.
This weekend, many of the most acclaimed YouTube creators will be in Toronto for Buffer Festival. Fans will have a chance to meet the YouTubers whose lives they have been following online and speak to them in person, taking selfies and recording videos along the way. For the first time this year, we’ll also be livestreaming the red carpet of our Gala Premiere. Starting at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, October 23, tune into Much.com or YouTube to catch the red carpet live, as well as premiere videos from some of YouTube’s most notable personalities such as Shay Carl, Jus Reign, Matthew Santoro, Toby Turner and more!
Festival attendees will get the chance to see their favourite YouTubers’ work in theatres throughout the city. From comedy sketches to the world of beauty and DIY, this year’s screenings offer something for everyone from the gamer to the fashionista.
For aspiring YouTube Creators, we’re excited to announce Creator Day, a chance for emerging creators to learn from the professionals, with successful YouTubers, industry professionals and YouTube experts offering guidance on a variety of topics relevant to their trade, such as videography, editing, and monetizing content.
Last year, thousands of fans came out to meet their favourite YouTube stars and get a first glance at their new videos. The breakout success of Buffer Festival and its creators demonstrates loud and clear just how much Canada loves YouTube and the creators who delight us, make us think and make us laugh.
To see your YouTube idols live, you can purchase tickets for Buffer Festival this weekend at BufferFestival.com/Tickets.
Posted by the Organizers of Buffer Festival.

#Elxn42: Tuning in and taking action!

It’s just under a month to go before Canadians head to the polls... and the stakes are high as the five federal party leaders take the stage tonight for the first French language debate, hosted by Radio-Canada, La Presse and Télé-Québec. To watch, go to youtube.com/elxn42 at 8pm ET, where the entire debate will be streamed in both French and English.

#DEBATDESCHEFS

As the federal election campaign heats up, Canadians are making sure they’re prepared for voting day. Last weekend, the phrase ‘How do I register to Vote?’ was a trending search on Google. And ‘When is the Canadian election?’ remains a top searched question in Canada (Answer: October 19th!).


If you plan on exercising your franchise on that day - why not #PledgeToVote and challenge your social network to do the same? Head over to CBCNews.ca/pledge, to take the pledge today.

Enjoy tonight’s debate. And make sure to follow youtube.com/elxn42 tomorrow for the latest analysis and coverage from the campaign trail.

Posted by Aaron Brindle, Google Canada

Live on YouTube: The Globe and Mail #elxn42 Leaders’ Debate tackles our Economy

Next week, the election trail stops in Calgary as Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, New Democratic Party Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau get set to lock horns over Canada’s economy in the second debate of the 2015 campaign.

Canadians can follow round two of the federal election debate live and in full on the YouTube Canada Elections Hub, via our partners at The Globe and Mail, who will be live streaming the debate on The Globe and Mail YouTube Channel. No matter where you are in the world, get access to the most important events of the 2015 federal election on the screen of your choice, whether that’s a television, laptop, tablet or phone. 
Recent events have thrust the economy into the spotlight as one of the most critical ballot-box issues facing Canadian voters in the upcoming election. While this debate will shed light on each party’s economic platform, Google Search Trends point to some of the economic topics that are already resonating most with Canadians:
google-trends-economy.png
Since the outset of the campaign, we’ve seen trending questions about whether Canada is in a recession and in the past week alone, recession has become one of the fastest rising issues Canadians are searching for on Google:
Tune in to the YouTube Elections Hub on Thursday, September 17 at 8:00PM EDT to catch the debate live from Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta. And if you miss it, we’ll have the full debate, highlight clips and commentary from across the web, available to watch at youtube.com/elxn42 after the debate is over.

Posted by Leslie Church, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Google Canada

YouTube takes to the airwaves with YouTube Hits on Rogers Radio stations

Canada’s favourite YouTubers are getting a new way to connect with their fans this week, with the launch of YouTube Hits on Rogers Radio.

YouTube Hits is the first of its kind in Canada and will reflect the amazing world of YouTube. Each week, the show will feature a rotating cast of Canadian and international YouTube stars, and feature a blend of established and emerging artists based on YouTube viewership to reveal what Canadians and the world are watching online.


YouTube has always been a place for fans and artists to discover and connect, just as radio has long been a place to listen to your favourite stars and learn about emerging talent. That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at Rogers to launch YouTube Hits on terrestrial radio - to support great new music from today’s biggest names and to help uncover rising stars.

Hosted by Rogers Radio personalities Blake Carter and Adam Wylde (Blake & Wylde, KiSS 92.5), the weekly hour-long show will highlight the hottest music, trends and topics. The first show will include on-air appearances by four Canadian YouTube stars Daniela Andrade (700,000 subscribers) ConvosWith2YrOld (790,000 subscribers), MakeUpByEman (350,000 subscribers) and Corey Vidal (225,000 subscribers).

YouTube Hits will air every weekend beginning Saturday, Sept. 5 across the country on Rogers's top-rated youth brands. Check local listings for times and details of upcoming guests.

Posted by Jenn Kaiser, Communications Manager, YouTube Canada

#Elxn42: The Digital Election

Whether you’ve used the internet to fact check information during a debate, explore a party’s campaign platform, or watch a debate live on YouTube, Canadians are turning to the web during this election more than ever before.

With week three of the campaign trail underway, we took a look at the role the internet is playing in #elxn42.

Even the term #elxn42 is a nod to the new Digital Voter -- one who spends almost all their time online when looking for information about politics and elections. In fact, nearly half of Canadian voters in this election report watching less live TV than four years ago.
Digital adoption is moving so quickly, that in 2015 fully 30 per cent of eligible voters are “digital-only” – they have no cable or satellite, watch less than 2 hours of live TV per week or prefer to view online only. And these digital-only voters aren't just millennials: 20 per cent of voters aged 50 and over are “digital-only” Canadians.
While voters still rely on TV for politics and election information, we found that digital video viewing is becoming increasingly important. 1 in 3 Canadian voters are choosing to watch video content online as their primary source of information. And interestingly, “change” voters – voters who would most favour a change in government – are more likely to rely on the internet as their primary news source about politics and the election.
So, what are Canadians going online for? Today, people don’t go to vote without searching for more information to inform their choice, from looking up news stories to finding out where to vote. And that gives campaigns an extraordinary series of opportunities to reach and engage with voters at the exact moment they’re looking for more information.
Throughout the election, the Google Trends team shares regular updates on what Canadians are searching for online, so follow us at @googlecanada or check back here for updates! You can also follow the campaign trail on YouTube via the YouTube Canada Elections Hub.

Posted by Leslie Church, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Google Canada

Meet OnHub: a new router for a new way to Wi-Fi

Cross posted from the Official Google Blog

Ugh...not again. You get home at the end of the day, and sit down to stream a new movie or upload vacation photos — and your Wi-Fi slows to a crawl or just stops working. Instead of relaxing in front of the screen or sharing those photos with friends, you spend it unplugging and re-plugging cords, trying to decipher blinking lights, or contemplating a call to customer support. 

While we count on Wi-Fi more than ever to be entertained, productive, and stay connected, we’re streaming and sharing in new ways our old routers were never built to handle. So today, with our partner TP-LINK, we’re launching OnHub, a different kind of router for a new way to Wi-Fi. Instead of headaches and spotty connections, OnHub gives you Wi-Fi that’s fast, secure, and easy to use. 

Designed for the HomeMany of us keep our router on the floor and out of sight, where it doesn’t work as well. We replaced unruly cords and blinking lights with internal antennas and subtle, useful lighting, so you’ll be happy placing OnHub out in the open, where your router performs its best.

Starts Fast, Stays FastDuring setup, OnHub searches the airwaves and selects the best channel for the fastest connection. A unique antenna design and smart software keep working in the background, automatically adjusting OnHub to avoid interference and keep your network at peak performance. You can even prioritize a device, so that your most important activity — like streaming your favourite show — gets the fastest speed.
A simple mobile app
OnHub makes it simple to set up and manage your Wi-Fi, all from the Google On app, available on Android or iOS. The Google On app tells you how much bandwidth your devices are using, lets you run a network check, and if there’s an issue with your Wi-Fi, the app offers suggestions to help. And, instead of lost passwords and sticky notes, it even reveals your password with a single tap and lets you text or email it to friends.

Just gets better
OnHub automatically updates with new features and the latest security upgrades, without interrupting your connection. In the future, OnHub can support smart devices that you bring into your home, whether they use Bluetooth® Smart Ready, Weave, or 802.15.4. We also plan to design new OnHub devices with other hardware partners in the future. Stay tuned for news from our second partner, ASUS, later this year.

OnHub will be available for sale for $269 in the Google Store and Best Buy in the coming weeks.

At the end of the day, we want our Wi-Fi to just work, so that we can do all the things we love to do online. Here’s to Wi-Fi with the reliability, speed, and security you want at home, without the frustrations you don’t.

Posted by Trond Wuellner, Group OnHub Product Manager