YouTube Launches Comedy Competition

YouTube is launching a sketch comedy competition dubbed the YouTube Sketchies. The Sketchies will be a three-round elimination competition allowing comedians to enter their digital shorts.

YouTube Launches Comedy Competition

Over a nine-week period starting Thursday, May 24, YouTube users will upload three comedic shorts as they attempt to build an audience. Winners will receive new gear, a brand assignment and a production budget from Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze, sponsor of the competition.

"Some of the best YouTube comedians use the episodic format and they’ve been hugely popular as a result. We’ve seen an evolution on YouTube from one hit viral videos, to people building passionate audiences that tune in to see every new video," said Jamie Byrne, head of product marketing, YouTube.

"Smosh, Chad Vader and The Lonely Island exemplify the type of comedians we expect people to discover during the YouTube Sketchies."

Each entry must be an original video from the content creator and be less than three minutes long. The contest is open to U.S. residents only.