Google has launched an SA version of YouTube, its vast online video repository, complete with a local .za Web address and some locally hosted content.

According to a statement from Google, South Africans can now use youtube.co.za to make it “faster and easier to find and view the videos most relevant to them”.

Content uploaded by users in SA will show up as “browse pages” on the YouTube SA site, giving SA users the “opportunity to increase their exposure” on the video website.

It’s not immediately clear how much YouTube content will be hosted by Google on its local servers, though it appears most if not all new SA-generated content will be hosted in the country. Google is already believed to host some of its services in SA at an Internet Solutions data centre facility outside Cape Town.

As part of the launch, YouTube has signed partnership agreements with the SABC and e-tv.

“These broadcasters, like other YouTube partners, have established a presence on the site to easily distribute their content and grow their audience,” Google says. “Over the years the SABC has built up an extensive archive of TV shows. Its current broadcasting schedule also contains gems that are well suited for this new platform.”

According to Google, the public broadcaster will pilot a “variety of older and current content on the channel. If the pilot proves successful the content offering may be extended to include a variety of its news, sport, soaps, dramas and comedies.” — Staff reporter, TechCentral