What are the different types of partner networks?

[Parallax Abstraction]

My apologies if this sounds like a n00b question or if it was answered elsewhere but I did some poking around and couldn't find anything. Since my channel is starting to grow, I'm considering my options for partnership networks. I've actually been approached by a couple but I've seen a lot of terms get thrown around in discussions like "This is a sub-network of this network which is a proprietary network under these people." as well as terms like CA and CMS which I just don't understand. This whole concept of networks apparently being nested within other networks and the like is really confusing to me and I don't understand what these different things mean in general and also how they can impact how the networks interact with my channel.

Would anyone in the know be able to enlighten me on these differences and how they relate to someone who wants to get partnership? Thanks!

 

[Tarmack]

The top sticky in the forum answers your question. MCN's are parent networks that work directly with YouTube. Sub-networks or Virtual networks are affiliates of MCN/parent networks and act as recruiters for a piece of the action. Content Aggregators are a second level of affiliate that lack some of the responsibilities of a VN.

 

[Parallax Abstraction]

The top sticky in the forum answers your question. MCN's are parent networks that work directly with YouTube. Sub-networks or Virtual networks are affiliates of MCN/parent networks and act as recruiters for a piece of the action. Content Aggregators are a second level of affiliate that lack some of the responsibilities of a VN.

Ahh nuts. I read the stickied threads and somehow missed that. Bah! Thanks for the answers though. It kind of sounds like the sub-network thing is almost like AmWay where you have one person who recruits others and it chains down from there with people getting different pieces of the pie. I don't say that in a negative way (a lot of people call AmWay and the like pyramid schemes but that's not what I mean) but it sounds like a similar relationship structure. There's nothing inherently wrong with joining sub-networks though and you can still have the same benefits and privileges by joining a sub-network instead of an MCN?

 

[Tarmack]

It's recruiting. Not so distant cousins of commission sales.

Sometimes sub-networks can be better. An individual channel is more valuable to them than to the big parent MCN, so support is often better. And most MCN's don't actively promote most of their partners (just the really big ones) so you can benefit that way too sometimes. You kinda have to weigh the offers against one another.

You're just as likely to continue to be paid whether you're with an MCN or it's sub-network though as the MCN handles all payments and technically you're signed with them anyways.