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2006

Google Video Goes International

July 5, 2006 0

Google Inc. announced it is launching its online video store “Google Video” in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the U.K. and Canada.

Online search giant Google has launched its Google Video service across Europe with partners including AETN, Buena Vista Television International, IMG Media, ITN, Premium TV and TalkbackThames on board.

Google has signed up a series of partners who will provide clips for its fledgling video service.

The deals mean that visitors will be able to watch Wimbledon matches, documentaries and sitcoms via the Google video site. The partners have been signed up as Google launches eight new versions of the clip-sharing site.

The service, which allows users to upload and search for video content including TV programmes online, has gone live in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK, plus Canada.

Google Video allows users to upload and share TV shows, movies and other video content. Users can decide whether to charge for the content or not. Google runs its adverts alongside videos that are posted.

By launching Google Video in these new markets we will enable more people in more countries to search for, upload and share video content in more languages, said Joanna Shields, Google’s European director of partnerships.

"We are excited to work with our content providers and advertisers around the world to help them use Google Video to reach a wider global audience."

The regional homepages of Google Video will feature the languages of the respective countries. The sites will also offer content specific to the country concerned. In addition, there will be international search feature, the company announced.

Clip Shop
Although Google video launched in April 2005 the service has been eclipsed by the success of rivals such as YouTube which let people post and share clips. Before now, all of Google’s video offerings, which include clips made by amateurs as well as content from broadcasters and movie makers, have run off the US site.

Google hopes that the eight national editions will grow to reflect the likes of the countries each site serves – visitors can rate videos to help sort which ones are the most popular.

Steve Ronson, senior VP of enterprises at A&E Television Networks, said Google Video would be an important tool to help it promote localized versions of the programming from The History Channel, The Biography Channel and Crime & Investigation Network.

As a worldwide content provider it is important for A&E Television Networks to reach potential viewers through new forms of media outlets, he said.

Included in the list of partners are ITN, Wimbledon video rights holder IMG Media, the Cousteau Society, Talkback Thames, Buena Vista International, FC Barcelona and France’s National Audiovisual Archive.

Patrick McNerney, VP of New Media at IMG Media, which owns sports programming producer TWI and recently acquired Tiger Aspect, said the company would be making over 250 matches from its coverage of this year’s Wimbledon Championships available via Google Video.

"We think this is a great opportunity to reach out to online viewers," said McNerney, adding that highlights, interviews, golden moments from the tournament’s past, and other content would also feature.

In a statement, Joanna Shields, European director of partnerships of Google, said the service in these new markets will help more people in more countries to search for, upload and share video content in more languages.

Google will have ITN and TalkbackThames as partners in the U.K. ITN has been partner for the U.S. version of Google Video. Partners for other countries include IMG Media, the Cousteau Society, Buena Vista International, FC Barcelona and France’s National Audiovisual Archive.

René Stokvis Producties, a Dutch independent production company, and Netherlands Public Broadcasting are also Google Video European launch partners, with the latter pledging to offer a special selection of its current online video content through the local version of the site.

TalkbackThames COO Alex Mahon said the FremantleMedia-owned company would tap into its comedy catalogue, which includes Green Wing, Smack the Pony and Bo Selecta.

"We are thrilled to be providing our content via Google Video and see it as a critical route to reach viewers directly, promote our content in brand new markets and build our brands globally," said Mahon.

The deals with the series of partners are intended to tempt people to visit the Google site and get them watching.

While Apple’s iTunes is a direct competitor for the service; broadcasters like Channel 4, which plans its own video on demand service soon, and the BBC, which will launch its iPlayer before the end of the year, will vie with Google Video for customers.