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Today we saw the first step in the integration of Google Video and YouTube.  Salar Kamangar, Vice President, Product Management for Google announced on the Official Google Blog this morning that all YouTube videos have been indexed for search in Google Video.  When you click on the result however, it will take you to that video’s page on YouTube.

They also that Google Video and YouTube serve different purposes - which is very evident by their decision to keep both of them active.  “Over time, Google Video will become even more comprehensive as it evolves into a service where you can search for the world’s online video content, irrespective of where it may be hosted,” Kamangar said.  So will we be seeing Yahoo Video and MetaCafe video on Google Video search in the near future?

Finally, Kamangar vaguely spoke of the implementation of AdSense into Google Video / YouTube.  Soon enough, publishers will be able to insert the video ads into their videos so they can make a little money...and make Google a lot of money.  The master plan is unfolding right before our very eyes.  Stay tuned as more develops.

A look ahead at Google Video and YouTube [Offical Google Blog]

Every web-based company wants to be as cool and popular as YouTube, just not like this. A recent Google report indicated that Google Video, the obviously-named video segment of the ever expanding company I like to call Googie, is being sued for copyright infringement. That’s twice as bad considering that Google has acquired YouTube and may have to deal with those lawsuits as well.

The most recent development in the case is that a French film company, Flach Films, has actually filed a lawsuit against French Google Video in Paris. Apparently their film le Monde Selon Bush ("The World According to Bush") was inappropriately streamed 43,000 times, essentially making Google a publisher of the film. Flach is seeking monetary compensation. Since Google’s report did not name a company, it is unclear if this is the same company or an additional lawsuit.

Of course, getting sued isn’t a de facto guilty verdict, but it sure doesn’t bode well for Googie.

Source [PC Advisor] Source [PV Wire]

How many times have you been sitting away from your PC, with nothing to do, and you thought to yourself, “Boy, I’d really like to be watching a guy slam his head into a wall,” only to realize that if you do that to the guy next to you, you will probably be arrested?

Well, worry no more. You can now search and watch Google Video right from your cell/smartphone. You can go here for the long written, boring instructions, or just enjoy the video above.

Read [Crave]

It was no secret that Google was in talks to buy YouTube this past week since Michael Arrington shared a tip offered by an insider.  Well, it’s now official, and huge news at that.  Google has announced plans to acquire number one video sharing site YouTube for a mere $1.65 billion in a stock-to-stock transaction (meaning Google gets all of YT’s stock and YT gets $1.65 billion worth of Google stock).  Google’s General Counsel David Drummond mentioned that stock was chosen as the transaction medium so it would be tax-free for YouTube.  YouTube will slowly be sucked into the vortex known as Google until the deal is completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

According to Google’s press release on the matter, “YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community.” I’d say this is a great idea for Google so they don’t corrupt the popular site with corporate nonsense.  The only confusing part of this strategy is how Google Video fits into the picture.  As you well know, Google Video is the second most popular video sharing site (to YouTube of course).  How they plan on operating these two divisions as separate entities is beyond me.  I suppose it’s possible they’re planning on heavily integrating AdSense and their other advertising solutions into YouTube and analyzing the return.

Today, both Google and YouTube executives had a conference call to discuss the acquisition.  Included were Eric Schmidt (Google’s CEO), Larry Page (Co-Founder & President, Products), Sergey Brin (Co-Founder & President, Technology), and Chad Hurley (YouTube’s CEO).  Others were on the call, but for the sake of space and time, I’ll spare you.

For the time being, the companies will not be announcing any juicy information regarding the partnership since there are a number of regulatory things that could stop the deal from closing.  Much of the call discussed how both companies share the same vision of serving end users, and Larry Page said how YouTube’s Chad and Steve remind him so much of himself and Sergey.  Isn’t that cute?  YT’s Chad discussed the community element of the partnership as seen below:

“Our community has played a vital role in changing the way that people consume media, creating a new clip culture. By joining forces with Google, we can benefit from its global reach and technology leadership to deliver a more comprehensive entertainment experience for our users and to create new opportunities for our partners,” said Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube.  “I’m confident that with this partnership we’ll have the flexibility and resources needed to pursue our goal of building the next-generation platform for serving media worldwide.”

For details on the conference call, check out PaidContent, TechCrunch.

It doesn’t look like Google’s going to have any trouble with being number two in web video...since they’ve now got number one in their back pocket.

Read [Press Release]

A few days ago, Michael Arrington from Silicon Valley blog TechCrunch started the rumor mill by exposing a tip he received.  The tip stated the following:

I got an email tonight about a possible Google acquisition of YouTube that may be in the final stages before closing. Rumored price is $1.6 billion. A quick phone call to a VC confirmed that the rumor is circulating (he also confirmed the price), but that is far from confirmation that this deal is happening. I’m digging for more but the source on this one is very good.

This is a big rumor, but if Google’s past products are any sign, it’s an unlikely one.  I mean, they’ve already got Google Video which is second to YouTube.  All they have to do is hire a designer and make it usable and they’re on their way to making a crap load (that’s the technical term).  Arrington went on to humorously call the rumor “40% likely to be at least partially true.” Shortly after he posted these findings, the Wall Street Journal also jumped on-board with the rumor.  And we can always count on Nick over at ValleyWag to shed some light on the situation.  Here’s a bit from his write up entitled: Holy hell, Google might actually buy YouTube.

This is, of course, a few months after co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley said YouTube wasn’t for sale and might go public on its own. Months. That’s forever in Internet time, so it doesn’t count as lying.

Update: Google has bought YouTube...read more here.

Read [TechCrunch]
Read [WSJ]
Read [ValleyWag]

Google has partnered with Viacom’s MTV Networks to test a video distribution platform that supplies ad-supported content online. The deal will be the first time MTV content has been made available outside of the network’s own Web site. MTV Networks’ programs will also be available for download through Google Video, for $1.99 per episode. With more content from across MTVN’s entire portfolio to be added, the initial offering includes full-length episodes from:

• Comedy Central: “Chappelle’s Show”, “South Park”


• MTV: “Beavis & Butthead: The Mike Judge Collection, Vol. 1”, “Laguna Beach”, “Gauntlet 2”, “My Super Sweet Sixteen”, “Jackass”, and “Punked”.


• MTV2: “WonderShowzen”


• Nickelodeon: “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, “SpongeBob SquarePants”, “Zoey 101”, “The Fairly OddParents”, and “Dora The Explorer”


• The N: “Beyond the Break”, “South of Nowhere”, and “O’Grady”

Read [IP Democracy]

Today we will find out that Google’s GBuy was nothing buy hype, they’re launching Google Checkout (checkout.google.com).  According to CEO Eric Schmidt, the checkout process will be faster than it has ever been before.  “The goal here is to make it be one nanosecond from the time the customer decides to buy to the time the transaction is complete and the product is on the way,” Schmidt said.  In addition to being a speedy process, Google will also combine the service with AdWords, waiving the transaction fees for merchants that decide to purchase advertisements on the ever-popular service.  By combining these two competitive advantages, Google Checkout will have a step up on the competition from the get-go.  Companies such as Buy.com, Starbucks, Timberland, and Levis have decided to join Checkout in its launch today.  Expect news from Paypal in coming weeks.

Video courtesy Official Google Blog

Via [PaidContent]
Read [NYTimes]

Looking to watch last night’s TV show online but not sure where exactly to get it? TechCrunch has posted a rundown of each broadcast channel’s options (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX) as well as the iTunes library content offering. Hopefully this will help you find what you missed, because we know walking into work without knowing the winner of tonight’s American Idol finale will cost you, your reputation.

Read [TechCrunch]

It’s easy to create and post your videos online at YouTube, GoolgeVideo and others, so why don’t you give it a shot. Internet Video Magazine announced the launch of new “Make a Net Video” and “Free Video Tools” guides which make it easy for anyone to create and upload their own personal videos, movies and video blogs to free online video hosting services like YouTube, OneTrueMedia, MySpace, ViralFlix, GoogleVideo and StreamLoad.

Targeted to beginners, students, and families, Internet Video Magazine provides easy to understand how to guides for all aspects of web video - from how to shoot your video, to how to edit and prepare it for the web by using free software, and to how to upload and post it. This includes a list of free or inexpensive sites for hosting the videos and movies. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on special video editing software or tools, most computers already come with the software bundled inside (Windows comes with MovieMaker, Apples come with iMovie). Both are very powerful but easy to master programs that make it possible for almost anyone to create personal movies that can be posted online.

Now it’s your turn [Internet video magazine]

Google is expected to release a bunch of new offerings come next Wednesday at the annual Google Press Day (smack in the middle of E3). USA Today has an interview with Marissa Mayer from Google. In the interview she hinted at a bunch of new offerings including a health portal and other vertically integrated services. For example:

Now if you type “knees” into Google, on the first page you get an article from Arthritis Today, a British site called Kneeguru, and another site with a subtitle of “Kink Notes by a Pansexual Polyfetishist.”

Google is also expected to integrate their video offering into Google News and other related categories. So when you search a story any news clips will come up in addition to the articles.

We will update your throughout the day next Tuesday in between E3 coverage, though the huge announcements should be out of the way by then.

Read [USA Today]