YouTube to overtake the BBC

YouTube is set to overtake the BBC as the most popular entertainment website in the UK, if current trends continue.

According to statistics from internet monitoring company Hitwise, the BBC could find itself toppled from the number one spot – a position it has held for the past two years – by the video-sharing site.

Visits to YouTube have risen more than seven-fold since last May. Though the BBC's share of hits is also rising – growing 13 per cent in the same period – the gap between the two sites is closing rapidly.

Last week, the BBC accounted for 0.82 per cent of all UK internet visits, while YouTube received 0.81 per cent.

Though they might be battling it out in the rankings, the two organisations have a mutually beneficial partnership with the BBC letting clips from some of its most popular shows be screened on YouTube.

Earlier this week, YouTube, which is owned by Google, launched nine localised versions of its site including ones specific to the UK and Ireland.

www.hitwise.co.uk

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