YouTube orders first major TV series based on Step Up franchise

YouTube is finally getting into the scripted series business after spending years building up its base of content creators and influencers, making a deal with Lionsgate to create a full-length show based on Step Up.

The show, which will air exclusively on YouTube Red and will be executive produced by franchise star Channing Tatum, will continue the saga of teenagers dancing their way to stardom while dealing with day-to-day struggles of life in different parts of the world. YouTube's global head of original content, Susanne Daniels, said that one of the reasons the company decided to go with Step Up was because of how popular dance videos are on YouTube, accounting for a large percent of videos people return to watch.

After producing five films that have grossed more than $650 million at the global box office, the team at Lionsgate said bringing their films and characters directly to the audience that is most invested in them was the best decision they could make, and YouTube seemed like the perfect platform for it. Like other premium series on YouTube, people must have a subscription to YouTube Red, which costs $10 a month

Step Up is set to enter production later this year and premiere on YouTube Red sometime in 2017.