Each site is localized with home pages, content and search features translated into the local language. Plans call for each new site to become a “local” experience, with country-specific video rankings and comments as well as video, channel, categories and community sections.
To support these new sites YouTube has signed with content partners including the BBC, France 24, Antena 3 and Cuatro TV from Spain, VPRO and NPO from the Netherlands and RTP from Portugal; European soccer teams including Chelsea FC, AC Milan, Barcelona FC and Real Madrid; and nonprofit organizations including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.
Adult industry publicists use YouTube for promotion.
"It makes them more accessible to the fans," adult industry publicist Alexander "Monstar" Raymond told XBIZ. "We take them out of the generic porn setting and put them in everyday life, in candid situations, having fun. It humanizes them."
YouTube Cofounder and CEO Chad Hurley has said that more than half of YouTube's visitors are from outside the U.S. "Video is universal and allows people around the world to communicate and exchange ideas. With our announcement today we are expanding upon our already global platform to make it even more relevant for our local communities,” Hurley said. “We look forward to rolling out in other countries in the months to come.”
New data indicate that HTTP traffic has overtaken P2P traffic in broadband for the first time in four years. This change is being attributed to YouTube and other video-sharing sites, as streaming media now accounts for more than one-third of the HTTP traffic. For more information, visit YouTube.com. The new international sites are accessible in the "Country" link.