Google in Talks to Buy Youtube.

Internet giant Google is in talks to purchase the hugely popular online video site YouTube. "YouTubers" watch millions of videos everyday and it's market share tops Google's own Google Video and other video hosting services. With YouTube in it's pocket, Google will have even more power over the exchange of information on the internet.



I can understand Google’s attraction to Youtube.

Youtube has really exploded these past few months. Jay Leno has a segment on Youtube videos. Paris Hilton and other "celebrities" promote themselves on Youtube.
Youtube has even seen some news coverage lately because the extremely popular Youtube Vblogger, Lonlygirl15, turned out to be an actress and her videos were backed by three screen writers.


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From a business point of view it's definately a smart move by youtube & google. But what googlevideos has that youtube doesn't have is the long 90min - 180min documentaries that we often link to here on ATS.

Edit: to put "and google" It's also a smart move for google obviously..


[edit on 6-10-2006 by TheBandit795]

[edit on 6-10-2006 by TheBandit795]

yes but the Chinese have google as their inter net poodle and attack dog all rolled into one - who says google wont start to shut it down piece by piece when its masters say it should do>???

Trust google? not on your life mate!

Unless YouTube resolves the problem of copyright infringement issues, it's only a matter of time before they get sued into oblivion.

But if Google buys them, then perhaps that would be a good thing. Google would have the resources to defend, and we might even get some decent "fair use" law out of it.

In my experience I’ve found Google Video to be way worse that Youtube when it comes to copyrighted material.
With Youtube, unless you have director status, the maximum video length you can upload is 10 minutes. Google Video doesn’t have such restrictions.
Also a lot of people use Youtube like a forum, just with video instead of text.
The worst I’ve seen for copyright infringement on Youtube are the people who upload full length Anime shows and break it up in to several parts. On Google Video I've seen entire DVD's uploaded.

It has been done.

Here is a A Message From the two founders of YouTube.



[edit on 10/10/2006 by Umbrax]

Originally posted by loam
Unless YouTube resolves the problem of copyright infringement issues, it's only a matter of time before they get sued into oblivion.

But if Google buys them, then perhaps that would be a good thing. Google would have the resources to defend, and we might even get some decent "fair use" law out of it.

Warner Brothers have already struck a deal with YouTube before this deal happenend while Universal was seeking to sue. Not many companies want to sue YouTube, and now with Google at the helm, they can now reasonably expect a profit from content on the site. Many other media companies are said to be in talks with YouTube as well.

The Google guys have also said that YouTube will still operate as if it's a separate company, so no Rebranding here. All Google wants is access to those tens of millions of eyeballs ready and willing to see some adsense. Perhaps Google will also start offering video adsense, that would be awesome. Video Advertising for the little guy.

Wow. A second generation dotcom boom or at least a demonstration that there are markets yet to be tapped, niche or not.

These two young men started YouTube from a garage, less than what 14 months ago(?), and have just sold it for a whopping 1.65B dollars.

Yes, that's $1,650,000,000! Who cares if it's a stock purchase, it's Google stock. $8.50/share + an additional $2 in extended following this announcement.

Major KUDOS to Chad Hurley and Steve Chen. Better yet they will be retained, as well as All 67 employees. It would seem a win:win for both parties.

As for concerns over copyright issues,
I believe the major media outlets are beginning to realize the beneficial exposure and potential marketing aspects, especially to an audience who probably spend more time in front of a computer than their TV.

Also,

YouTube on Monday announced new partnerships with Universal Music Group, CBS Corp. and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Those alliances followed a similar arrangement announced last month with Warner Music Group Inc.

... and they just wanted to share videos with friends and family. Who would have thunk it.

Yup, 1.6 bil is quite alot, but when you consider that Google "bought" YouTube for nothing but paper assetts, and no cash outlay or capital, Google basically stole it for pennies.

[edit on 10-10-2006 by smirkley]