YouTube’s extravagant NewFront event, dubbed ‘Brandcast’, was held at Manhattan’s Javits Center. To lead off the presentation, CEO Susan Wojcicki acknowledged the company’s recent brand safety crisis, which has seen a slew of advertisers suspend YouTube advertising upon learning that their ads were appearing on extremist videos. “We apologize for letting some of you down,” she said. “We can and we will do better.” Left unsaid was what, exactly, Google and YouTube plan on doing to address the crisis. No precise plans or timelines were laid out. The presenters – which included not only Wojcicki, but stars like James Corden and Kevin Hart – chose instead to focus on YouTube’s upcoming content efforts. Most notably, the company is planning to launch a number of new original shows, not on the YouTube Red SVOD service, but on the traditional ad-supported side. The video giant announced six new shows in total – all unscripted – including content from Hart (hence his presentation duties), musician Demo Lovato, and Ellen DeGeneres. Singer Katy Perry also made an appearance, announcing that she’ll participate in Best.Cover.Ever, a new singing competition show from Endemol Shine North America and Ryan Seacrest. Perry will also star in a YouTube-exclusive Katy Perry Live Special, where she’ll host a live album listen-along for fans. “Why now, after all these years, do we feel the time is right for ad-supported originals?” asked YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl when he spoke. “Frankly, because they’re becoming more and more rare.” He’s not wrong – they’re increasingly rare. And YouTube is about to find out whether or not there’s still demand for them.