Build media platforms on YouTube — without owning the content
DeadChannel adds structure, attribution, and discovery around YouTube — not instead of it. The content never leaves the platform.
YouTube is where culture happens.
It's not where it's organized.
Channels don't equal content
A single channel can contain dozens of distinct shows, series, and formats — but YouTube treats them all the same.
Credits disappear
Guests, producers, editors, and collaborators get lost. There's no structured way to credit or discover by contributor.
Playlists don't scale
Playlists are flat, unstructured, and impossible to browse. They're a band-aid, not infrastructure.
DeadChannel provides the missing layer.
YouTube already won distribution. Rebuilding it is a waste of time. DeadChannel works with that reality — adding the structure, context, and editorial control that YouTube was never designed to provide.
No scraping
Built on official APIs and direct channel partnerships. Every connection is authorized.
No mirroring
Videos stay on YouTube. We add the structure, not the hosting. Creators keep their views and revenue.
No distortion
Platform layers that complement YouTube, not compete with it. The algorithm stays out of it.
Proving ground
Mitten Militia
A Michigan-focused media network organizing 50+ YouTube channels into a structured, credited platform. Built on DeadChannel to validate the infrastructure — one application of the system, not the product itself.
See how it worksWhat you can build
DeadChannel is infrastructure. These are the kinds of things it makes possible.
Community-run media networks
Aggregate your scene's best channels into a single browsable platform with editorial control.
Curated artist ecosystems
Build artist profiles that span across channels, with proper credits, tags, and discovery paths.
Festival & club-scene platforms
Organize event footage, DJ sets, and performances into structured, searchable collections.
Regional discovery hubs
Surface the best local content by region, genre, or community — beyond what the algorithm shows.
Living archives
Turn years of scattered uploads into organized, browsable archives with context and metadata.
Custom discovery engines
Build recommendation systems that actually reflect your community's taste, not YouTube's.
How it works
Non-destructive by design.
Connect channels
Link YouTube channels through the API. No passwords, no scraping, no access tokens from creators.
Structure content
Tag, credit, categorize, and organize videos into shows, series, and collections.
Publish discovery
Launch your platform with built-in search, browse, and recommendation — all powered by YouTube embeds.
Build something real on top of what already exists.
This is infrastructure, not a template. It's for teams ready to build intentionally.