# ChannelZap

> The world's TV guide for YouTube: what to watch, who's rising, and how they did it. A free weekly newsletter and website published every Friday in English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), Hindi and Korean. Each issue has a Big Premiere channel, a 6-tile Channel Surfing Grid (one channel per country, 3+ continents, 2+ non-English channels, one Under-10K pick and one Parent-Approved family pick), a Creator Desk guide, a tool review, a brand-deal radar and sourced platform news. ChannelZap is independent and not affiliated with YouTube or Google.

Key facts:
- Every channel is checked on its public YouTube page; subscriber counts are published as bands (<1K, 1–10K, 10–100K, 100K–1M, 1M+) with the date checked.
- Editorial picks and the Parent-Approved Kid-Safe Seal are never sold. Sponsored items are labeled in each language.
- Languages: en (/), es (/es/), ja (/ja/), zh-Hant (/zh-hant/), hi (/hi/), ko (/ko/). Translations are AI-assisted and human-approved.
- Publisher: MonroeMedia916
- Business, sponsorship and press: hello@monroemedia916.com
- Reader tips, nominations and corrections: hello@channelzap.com

## Issues
- [#1: Mexico's science-animation studio, real fighter pilots playing Ace Combat 8, and 6 channels to surf (2026-10-16)](https://channelzap.com/issues/001/): Issue #1 premieres CuriosaMente (Mexico, Spanish-language animated science and history). The Channel Surfing Grid: Two Minute Papers (Hungary, AI research), Game Sanpo by Livedoor News (Japan, experts play games; Ace Combat 8 with real pilots), Village Cooking Channel (India, Tamil village cooking), Real Engineering (US, 'Sagrada Familia - Full Documentary' with 20 dubbed audio tracks), Intra (Netherlands, game-dev devlogs, under 10K subscribers) and Super Simple Songs (Canada, preschool songs; Parent-Approved seal review pending). Plus a beginner channel-launch guide, ElevenLabs Dubbing costs, YouTube's Creator Partnerships and Shopping affiliate expansion, and four platform news items.
- [#1 structured JSON](https://channelzap.com/issues/001.json): channels, bands, watch-first videos and sources

## News (daily YouTube news briefs: creators, platform, business, streaming)
- [News](https://channelzap.com/news/): our own short summaries of current YouTube news, each linking to the original source; reports and rumors are attributed. Updated daily.
- [RSS feed: news](https://channelzap.com/news/feed.xml)
- [Lilly Singh is going back to the sketch comedy that made her famous](https://news.thepublishpress.com/p/youtube-s-latest-creator-comebacks) (The Publish Press, 2026-10-15, Creators): The 14M-subscriber creator says she wants to make what she finds funny again, and teased a new sketch with her character Manjeet Singh, per The Publish Press.
- [The GTA VI launch trailer is out, and YouTube is where everyone is watching it](https://x.com/YouTube/status/2110720252090962027) (X (@YouTube), 2026-10-15, Must Watch): Per a post by @YouTube, Rockstar's new Grand Theft Auto VI trailer is live on YouTube, five weeks before the game's Nov 19 release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- [Study: smaller niche channels hold attention better than mega channels](https://www.netinfluencer.com/niche-creators-win-attention-on-youtube-while-scale-wins-views-report-finds/) (NetInfluencer, 2026-10-15, Business): TVision's 'State of Streaming' report finds niche YouTube channels get more viewer attention, even though the big channels win on total views.
- [Asmongold says he turned down $20M in gambling sponsorships](https://www.netinfluencer.com/streamer-asmongold-says-he-turned-down-20m-usd-in-gambling-sponsorships/) (NetInfluencer, 2026-10-15, Streaming/Live): The streamer said on stream that he refused gambling deals worth more than $20 million because he doesn't like gambling. That's his own claim, reported via Dexerto.
- [BBC News puts its 24-hour channel live on YouTube in the UK and US](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c60merk2je80o) (BBC News, 2026-10-15, Streaming/Live): The BBC started a trial on Oct 15 that streams the BBC News channel live on YouTube for UK and US viewers, after earlier launches in Australia, Kenya, Nigeria and Poland.
- [YouTube is reportedly talking to publishers about audiobooks](https://www.engadget.com/2287331/youtube-audiobook-offering-rumor/) (Engadget, 2026-10-15, Platform): The Wall Street Journal reports YouTube is in talks with book publishers, and the audiobooks could come to Premium at no extra cost. YouTube hasn't announced anything.
- [Viewers push back on a test of YouTube's new desktop layout](https://x.com/i/trending/2110566630287675849) (X, 2026-10-15, Platform): Per posts on X, many users dislike a desktop test that moves comments into a sidebar and puts large recommendations under the player. YouTube hasn't said whether it will ship.
- [The week's most-watched sponsored videos: MrBeast, Airrack, Cleo Abram](https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/10/14/top-5-branded-videos-mrbeast-hyogax-airrack-cleo-abram-novympia/) (Tubefilter, 2026-10-14, Business): Tubefilter's weekly branded-video chart (Gospel Stats data) shows which brand deals pulled the biggest YouTube audiences.
- [GIFs arrive in YouTube comments, slowly](https://9to5google.com/2026/10/14/youtube-begins-rolling-out-gif-support/) (9to5Google, 2026-10-14, Platform): YouTube has started a gradual rollout of GIF replies in comments, about a month after announcing them. 9to5Google says the slow pace is deliberate.
- [hololive VTubers and Critical Role team up for an actual-play series](https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/10/14/hololive-vtuber-critical-role-tabletop-rpg-shattered-legends/) (Tubefilter, 2026-10-14, Must Watch): 'Shattered Legends' puts hololive talents and Critical Role's voice actors at one Daggerheart table, starting in November.
- [Cal built a streaming studio for its student-athletes](https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/10/14/university-of-california-berkeley-twitch-studio-student-athletes/) (Tubefilter, 2026-10-14, Streaming/Live): UC Berkeley gave its athletes a Twitch studio to make their own content. Tubefilter calls it a new recruiting edge.
- [Druski will host 'Saturday Night Live' on Nov 7](https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/10/14/druski-saturday-night-live-snl-host-november-7/) (Tubefilter, 2026-10-14, Creators): Tubefilter says the comedian will be the first SNL host whose career started as a social media creator.
- [NCT 127's Johnny Suh marks one year of 'JOHNNY SAYS' on YouTube](https://x.com/i/trending/2110433200808022161) (X, 2026-10-14, Creators): Per posts on X, fans worldwide celebrated the first anniversary of the K-pop idol's advice-and-talk channel.
- [Tesco is showing influencer videos on in-store screens](https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/popular-grocery-chain-starts-playing-influencer-videos-while-customers-shop-3418948/) (Dexerto, 2026-10-14, Business): The UK grocery chain is testing creator videos on store screens as another way for brands to reach shoppers while they're in the aisles.
- [YouTube Music starts labeling AI-made songs](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youtube-music-starts-labeling-ai-generated-songs-using-partner-disclosures-and-its-own-detection-tools/) (Music Business Worldwide, 2026-10-14, Platform): Tracks made mostly with generative AI now get a label, based on what labels and distributors disclose plus YouTube's own detection, Music Business Worldwide reports.

## Niches
- [All niches](https://channelzap.com/niches/)
- [AI Creators](https://channelzap.com/niches/ai-creators/): AI animation, synthetic media, research explainers and real AI workflows. (1 channels so far)
- [Gaming & Esports](https://channelzap.com/niches/gaming-esports/): Let's Plays, indie game spotlights, speedrunners, cozy gaming and esports. (2 channels so far)
- [Kid-Safe & Family](https://channelzap.com/niches/kid-safe-family/): Vetted, educational and safe entertainment for children, written for parents. (1 channels so far)
- [Health, Wellness & Fitness](https://channelzap.com/niches/health-fitness/): Home workouts, mental health, longevity and medical explainers. (0 channels so far)
- [Cooking, Baking & Global Food](https://channelzap.com/niches/cooking-food/): Street food vloggers, culinary arts, cultural recipes and ASMR baking. (1 channels so far)
- [New & Independent Filmmakers](https://channelzap.com/niches/indie-filmmakers/): Short films, narrative storytelling and web series. (0 channels so far)
- [Documentaries](https://channelzap.com/niches/documentaries/): Investigative journalism, deep-dive video essays and history. (2 channels so far)
- [Sports](https://channelzap.com/niches/sports/): Athlete vlogs, sports commentary, niche and extreme sports. (0 channels so far)
- [Tech](https://channelzap.com/niches/tech/): Reviews, coding and future tech. (0 channels so far)
- [Music Channels](https://channelzap.com/niches/music/): Indie artists, cover channels and lo-fi/ambient beats. (0 channels so far)
- [How-To & Education](https://channelzap.com/niches/how-to-education/): Language learning, science and skill-building. (1 channels so far)
- [ASMR & Cozy/Ambient](https://channelzap.com/niches/asmr-cozy/): Study With Me, silent vlogs and relaxation. (0 channels so far)
- [Travel & Lifestyle](https://channelzap.com/niches/travel-lifestyle/): Digital nomads, cultural exploration and van life. (0 channels so far)
- [VTubers & Virtual Creators](https://channelzap.com/niches/vtubers/): Anime and rigged-avatar streamers, huge in Japan and growing worldwide. (0 channels so far)
- [DIY, Makers & Restorations](https://channelzap.com/niches/diy-makers/): Woodworking, 3D printing, antique restoration and homesteading. (0 channels so far)

## ChannelWho (YouTuber Spotlight: reviews of new and small channels)
- [ChannelWho](https://channelzap.com/who/): "Who's worth watching? New channels, reviewed." Independent reviews; nobody pays to be reviewed; creators can request corrections. Owl rating 1-5. Nominations: hello@channelzap.com, subject "ChannelWho nomination".
- [All ChannelWho reviews](https://channelzap.com/who/reviews/)
- [ChannelWho review: Intra](https://channelzap.com/who/intra/): 1–10K subscribers, EN, Gaming & Esports, owl rating 4/5 (provisional). A solo game-design channel: devlogs from the creator's own Unreal Engine 5 project, plus game-design critiques. The channel description says: 'I'm obsessed with game design!'
- [ChannelWho review: I Teach You Science](https://channelzap.com/who/i-teach-you-science/): 1–10K subscribers, EN, How-To & Education, owl rating 4/5 (provisional). Earth and space science lessons, explainers and Regents-exam review. The channel description says it's made by a current science teacher and curriculum developer, for students and for teachers.
- [ChannelWho review: Cozy Boardgames](https://channelzap.com/who/cozy-boardgames/): 1–10K subscribers, EN, ASMR & Cozy/Ambient, owl rating 3/5 (provisional). Short, upbeat looks at 'cozy' board games from a creator who introduces herself as Rozie and makes the videos in her free time. Her description defines a cozy board game as one that 'brings you comfort and joy' without high conflict.
- [ChannelWho review: Cocina Universitaria](https://channelzap.com/who/cocina-universitaria/): <1K subscribers, ES, Cooking, Baking & Global Food, owl rating 3/5 (provisional). Cheap, easy recipes for university students, in Spanish. The description promises 'recetas reales para estudiantes reales': food you can make with what's in the fridge, without dirtying every pan.

## Creators
- [Creator Desk](https://channelzap.com/creators/)
- [Launch your first channel: a step-by-step guide](https://channelzap.com/creators/launch-your-first-channel/): The settings that matter on day one, what unlocks when, and the monetization targets, including the YouTube Partner Program change on Feb 1, 2027. Every step links to YouTube's own Help Center.
- [Multi-language audio & AI dubbing playbook](https://channelzap.com/creators/multi-language-dubbing-playbook/): How to put Spanish, Hindi, Japanese and other audio on your videos with YouTube's automatic dubbing or your own dubs, which languages are actually supported, and where Chinese fits. Sourced from YouTube Help, checked Oct 15, 2026.
- [Collab Board rules](https://channelzap.com/collab/)
- [Behind-the-Channel vendor directory](https://channelzap.com/vendors/)

## About
- [Kid-Safe Seal criteria](https://channelzap.com/kid-safe/): the 10-item checklist and age bands
- [About & method](https://channelzap.com/about/)
- [FAQ](https://channelzap.com/faq/)
- [Advertise](https://channelzap.com/advertise/)
- [Español](https://channelzap.com/es/): ChannelZap: la guía de TV del mundo para YouTube
- [日本語](https://channelzap.com/ja/): ChannelZap：世界のYouTube番組表
- [中文（繁體）](https://channelzap.com/zh-hant/): ChannelZap：全球的 YouTube 節目表
- [हिंदी](https://channelzap.com/hi/): ChannelZap: YouTube के लिए दुनिया की टीवी गाइड
- [한국어](https://channelzap.com/ko/): ChannelZap: 전 세계 YouTube 편성표

## Optional
- [Full text](https://channelzap.com/llms-full.txt)
- [RSS feed: issues](https://channelzap.com/feed.xml)
- [RSS feed: news](https://channelzap.com/news/feed.xml)
- [RSS feed: ChannelWho reviews](https://channelzap.com/who/feed.xml)
- [Search index (JSON)](https://channelzap.com/search-index.json)
- [Privacy policy](https://channelzap.com/privacy/)