YouTube To Usurp BBC Site as Most Popular In UK

[engine]

YouTube, the video-sharing site owned by Google, is set to topple the BBC's flagship website as the most popular online media destination in the UK.

According to Hitwise, the market researchers, bbc.co.uk has been the most-visited "entertainment" website in the UK every week for the past two years but is set to be passed by YouTube "in a matter of weeks".

The impending demotion of bbc.co.uk to second place at the hands of YouTube looks to underscore the power of “web 2.0” media models, which harness user-created content and strive to create online communities.

YouTube To Usurp BBC Site as Most Popular In UK [business.timesonline.co.uk]

[vincevincevince]

I'm not sure that the BBC should be classed as entertainment anyway. In fact, it has been a lot less entertaining with each successive year.

[Matt Probert]

Gosh, if ever we needed evidence that the UK population (and the rest of the world) is "dumbing down" now we have more.

A potential wealth of research resources, and all people are interested in is corny video clips and pictures of half-naked celebrities, sigh.

Matt

[Maxnpaddy]

I like youtube, but alas once I've tracked down and watched whatever videos I want, this will be a short-lived site.

It's main selling point is it's videos, so it's fair to say it's success will depend on fresh new videos uploaded every day. But it's content is mainly of 'reality private videos.

Nice idea, but short-lived.

[Quadrille]

I find that youTube videos work - and a lot are embedded in other sites (which still gives them the stats).

The BBC, on the other hand, takes much longer to load their videos, which are often

"Here's a video
because we think
you want a video
but actually
we've got nothing
really good to
show you and
it'll take twice
as long as
YouTube to work
sorry about that"

While when you visit YouTube, your expectations are much lower and are rarely disappointed.

[Maxnpaddy]

My expectations are higher with Youtube, because they are specialists and video is what they do. But they could be offering more with their service, Myspace will take them on and with Myspaces networking prowess will become a strong competitor.

But this is merely speculation and I wish I could predict the future.