YouTube goes local

A localised version of the popular video-sharing website YouTube has been launched in the UK.

Though British visitors to YouTube's website haven't previously faced any language difficulties, the largely US-centric content on offer meant finding clips relating to the UK could be time-consuming.

But now on www.youtube.co.uk, content created and posted by UK surfers takes centre stage.

Eight more localised versions of YouTube - in Ireland, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland and Spain have also gone live, offering content relevant to the local population.

"We're really excited to now offer the service to a global community, by bringing them local sites that not only promote their communities but speak their language," said Steve Chen, co-founder and chief technology officer of YouTube.

Analysts shared Chen's excitement.

"Clearly the new sites are more frameworks to be filled in with local content than entirely new iterations of the original YouTube, but it’s still great to see the company making both the viewing and creation of video content more accessible," said Zia Daniell Wigder of Jupiter Research.

Back in March, YouTube and the BBC announced plans to place preview clips of BBC programmes such as Doctor Who and Spooks on the video-sharing website, as well as setting up BBC-branded channels.

www.youtube.co.uk

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