YouTube launched yet another of their localised international versions of the site on Tuesday, at a flashy press conference with YouTube staff members and stars in attendance.
But for all the razzmatazz, two questions remain; How lame are these region specific spin offs of the video sharing site, and what is the point of them in the first place?
Over the last few months, we’ve seen Brazil, Poland, Ireland and Australia all get their own version of YouTube, and now Canada is the latest to be blessed with the so called honour.
The press conference itself was (by all reports) a well organised event, with a live performance by singer Naomi Streimer (who recently released a single on YouTube) and various other video stars in attendance, but the question is why is the whole thing necessary in the first place?
Reviewing YouTube Canada
Let’s take a look at the site first. Point your browsers at ca.youtube.com and let the fun begin. Can you notice anything different? I can’t apart from a tiny Canadian flag up in the top right hand corner.
It seems to have disappeared now, but first time visitors over the past couple of days were also welcomed with this great video (officially sanctioned by YouTube) to introduce them to the new service. Watch it and wince…
What the hell is that, it’s one of the worst videos I’ve ever seen on YouTube, and that’s meant to make people see the benefit of a purely Canadian YouTube? Hmm, okay then
Is Advertising The Answer?
So what is the point of YouTube Australia, Canada, or Poland? Do Canadians only want to watch videos of other Canadians doing things? Do Polish people get annoyed if they see people from other countries on video?
The chances are it’s more money driven than that, with advertising playing a part in this regionalizing of YouTube. If you were a Canadian advertiser, wouldn’t you be more tempted if you knew your ads would be solely aimed and directed at fellow Canadians?
I’m British, but I very rarely visit the British version of YouTube, sticking instead to the normal everyday YouTube we all know and love.
It’s very hard to get people to change routines, and giving Canadians a few clips of Canadian cats or ice hockey just isn’t going to win them over, whether it’s good for your advertising revenue or not.
