300k opportunity for Kiwi YouTubers

NZ On Air and Google have put their cash together and come up with a 300k opportunity - Skip Ahead.

Successful New Zealand YouTubers now have the chance to prove their creative worth and apply for a grant that will hone in on their talents and potentially build new audiences.

Applicants need to have a substantial existing subscriber base. This is good news for the likes of Jamies World, Shaaanxo, Caito Potatoe and MooshMooshVlogs.

The content can be any genre, but it has to play to the YouTubers' strengths and their audience's expectations.

The Skip Ahead programme acknowledges the fact that there is a generation of content creators with substantial audiences online. According to Australian research company Ray Morgan, watch-time on YouTube in New Zealand is up 55% year on year. The number of hours of content being added is also growing 80% year on year.

As well as grants of up to $100,000 per project, YouTube will also provide networking opportunities and skill development workshops to help the Kiwi Creators.

NZ On Air chief executive, Jane Wrightson, says New Zealand has some seriously gifted YouTubers.

"There is some exciting talent among New Zealand YouTubers. They have ideas and enthusiasm, and in many cases, significant audiences. This fund will help some of these creatives take the next step in their careers, and fully explore using digital media to tell New Zealand stories," says Wrightson.

Applications open today and close at the end of August. Check out all the important info here.