In an attempt to make up lost ground on online video leaders YouTube and myspace, Google is introducing eight country-specific versions of its video-sharing site, Google Video, including a site specific to the UK.
Google Europe has signed up a number of commercial partners that will provide free clips at this early stage for promotional purposes, including ITN, IMG Media (sports events), A&E (which owns The History Channel), Buena Vista International Europe, and Premium TV - a digital rights and broadband company with clients including UKTV, Cartoon Network, World Rally Championship, and the Football League.
The US site offers pay-per-view and pay-per-download services from commercial partners, but this commercial model could change, possibly using video ads or "partner pages", where an advertiser takes a branded page - as Buena Vista has done for the upcoming Superman film.
It's certainly going to be an uphill struggle for Google to make a mark, with YouTube and myspace currently holding 65 per cent of the market share.
Via The Guardian
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