July 14, 2006

Google has inked a few deals with some partners that will provide video clips for its popular video service.

Google's new deals mean that visitors will be able to watch Wimbledon matches, sitcoms and documentaries via the Google video site.

Google's new partners have been okayed up as the search company launches 8 new versions of the video clip-sharing site.

Canada, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain now all have their national versions.

Although Google Video launched in April of last year, the service has been eclipsed by the success of rivals such as YouTube which let people post and share clips.

Before today, all of Google's video offerings, which include clips made by amateurs as well as content from broadcasters and movie makers, have run off the US site.

Google hopes that the eight new national editions will grow to reflect the likes of the countries each site serves - visitors can rate videos to help sort which ones are the most popular.

Included in the list of partners are ITN, Wimbledon video rights holder IMG Media, the Cousteau Society, Talkback Thames, Buena Vista International, FC Barcelona and France's National Audiovisual Archive.

The deals with the series of partners are intended to tempt people to visit the Google site and get them watching.

Those posting video to the site, whether they are movie makers or amateurs, can decide whether to charge for the clips.

To help pay for the site Google runs adverts alongside videos that are posted.

Source: BBC