Old Gao's Secret YouTube Channel Discovered?
YouTuber Ah Xian discusses the possibility that Lao Gao (Old Gao), another popular YouTuber, secretly created a new YouTube channel to test content strategies taught in his membership program. According to Ah Xian, Lao Gao mentioned this new channel exploded in popularity after only five videos. Although Lao Gao intended to keep the channel private for further testing, astute viewers may have uncovered it.
The Search for the Mystery Channel
Based on Lao Gao's clues – the channel was created in May, and its most popular video had over 240 million views – viewers identified a channel called Mr Tabby Tales. This channel currently has 11 videos and over 300,000 subscribers. Its most-watched video has reached over 330 million views.
Clues and Discrepancies
While Mr Tabby Tales was created on June 23, 2023, Lao Gao mentioned starting his new channel in late May. Ah Xian argues that an inactive channel is essentially the same as a new one. Furthermore, the exact creation date wouldn't affect Lao Gao's testing purposes. Lao Gao also stated the fifth video "exploded," but Mr. Tabby Tales's most popular video is its second one. However, the view count still aligns with Lao Gao's description, and earlier videos can be set to private, potentially making the popular video the de facto fifth.
Further Evidence and Content Analysis
Many viewers believe this is Lao Gao's channel, noting its location aligns with Lao Gao's residence in Singapore. The video titles are in both English and Japanese, an unusual combination. Mr. Tabby Tales features AI-generated animated shorts depicting a cat trying to catch mice (and occasionally dogs). Invariably, the mice escape. These short clips, often around five seconds, typically end with the mouse about to be caught while eating cheese. This encourages viewers to repeatedly watch the video, hoping to see the mouse caught.
Exploiting the Algorithm
This technique is used to manipulate the YouTube algorithm. The lack of a definitive ending and seamless looping tricks viewers (especially children) into watching repeatedly, signaling to the algorithm that the content is highly engaging. This is a common tactic among short-form video creators. Furthermore, the lack of spoken language makes the videos accessible globally, maximizing their reach, a point previously emphasized by popular Taiwanese short-form video creator ChiXuan.
Potential Revenue
Based on ChiXuan's reported earnings of roughly 0.6 NTD per 1,000 views for short videos, Mr. Tabby Tales could have earned around 207,000 NTD (approximately $6,400 USD) from its 345 million views. Given the simple and repetitive nature of the content, the actual revenue per 1,000 views could be lower. However, earnings around 100,000 NTD (approximately $3,100 USD) are still possible.
Community Reaction and Channel Status
News of the potential connection has spread online, with commenters expressing their belief that the channel belongs to Lao Gao. Others playfully note the channel's inability to catch the mouse, but its success in "catching" Lao Gao's audience. While Lao Gao wanted to keep the channel secret for further testing, the channel has not been updated since June 2nd. Regardless, Ah Xian suggests that if this is indeed Lao Gao's channel, it constitutes a successful social experiment.