Being considered as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo is a titan in the world of sports. Additionally, he already has over 900 million social media followers, making him a very powerful online personality. However, Ronaldo has now taken a risk by starting his own YouTube channel in an attempt to solidify his position as a global celebrity.
Ronaldo’s new channel, simply named “UR,” debuted today and nearly immediately broke records. It hit the 1 million subscriber mark in less than 90 minutes, which is the quickest for a newly launched YouTube channel to do so. It had an astonishing 5 million members by the four-hour mark.
This quick expansion shows how much of an impact Ronaldo has, especially with younger viewers who were raised in the age of social media and online content creation. It shows that the 39-year-old athlete understands the creative economy’s potential and is committed to using it to further his own reputation and legacy.
In addition to releasing information regarding football, Ronaldo has pledged to offer viewers an unmatched glimpse into his life on the channel, covering topics such as “family, wellness, nutrition, preparation, recovery, education, and business.” This multifaceted strategy fits in with how successful producers have grown their audiences by providing a wide range of content that extends outside their main area of interest.
My YouTube channel will provide me an even bigger platform to communicate with my followers, something I’ve always wanted to do on social media. In the announcement of the channel’s launch, Ronaldo said, “Followers will get to know my family, my beliefs on a wide range of topics, and myself better.”
“UR”‘s debut underscores the importance of YouTube as a medium for public personalities, athletes, and celebrities to establish direct connections with their fan communities. When it came to spreading news and viewpoints, traditional media—such as television and magazines—was the main tool used. As more well-known athletes realize the importance of digital media companies, social media will likely play a bigger role in enabling these personalities to communicate with fans directly and get around gatekeepers.
