Originally posted Thursday, May 2, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
YouTube will begin offering its original series and specials once only available for subscribing YouTube Premium customers to everyone starting this fall with ads attached.
This includes its big hit “Cobra Kai,” shot in Atlanta, which will return for a third season in 2020.
“While every other media company is building a paywall,” said YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl, “we are headed in the opposite direction and now have more opportunities than ever to partner with advertisers and share our critically- acclaimed originals with our global audience.”
The series, a continuation of “The Karate Kid” films from the 1980s with three original stars Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), William Zubka (Johnny Lawrence) and Martin Kove (John Kreese) and a new cast of younger actors. It’s been a critical and popular darling, infused with comedy, drama and heart.
YouTube said the first episode, available free, hit 20 million views in less than a week .
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