YouTube scores with sports channels

YouTube continues to morph itself into a television-like service, most recently with the launch of a few new action sports channels, for programming from the whole world of sports, from comedy sketches to in-depth sports documentaries and analysis. The Bleacher Report channel includes a flagship daily show called BR5, an American football show called NFL Draft 365, and a college football recruiting show called Full Ride. The documentary series Why We Watch uncovers behind-the-scenes stories for the American sports landscape, while a slate of opinion and analysis shows offer top athlete and celeb appearances and more. KickTV covers the other kind of football (soccer to Americans), including international stars and pundits that debate hot-button topics on The Mixer. Another show called On The Whip, features Kick’s experts to highlight top happenings from around YouTube’s football world. History buffs can dip into the past to catch full matches on the Kick Classics channel, while aspiring stars can learn the game in the Academy channel. The NOC, meanwhile, is a 24-hour channel devoted to athletic lifestyles and comedy. Original shows include Say What, a funny take on what athletes say in social media. The Ice Bucket offers an inside look at how athletes unwind off the field. And FaceOff features athletes competing against celebrities and YouTube stars. The channel has new comedy sketches planned every month.