Google 'in talks to buy YouTube'

[Cloak & Swagger]

Google 'in talks to buy YouTube'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5414432.stm

(Cloak & Swagger's thoughts: This is not a good thing.)

YouTube is growing in popularity

Google is reported to be in talks to buy popular video-sharing website YouTube for $1.6bn (£856m).

The Wall Street Journal said discussions between the two sides were at a sensitive stage and the talks could break up.

Neither Google nor YouTube have made any comment.

Launched in February 2005, YouTube has grown quickly into one of the most popular websites on the internet, with 100 million videos viewed every day.

Previous denials

Founded by three former employees of eBay's PayPal electronic payment unit, YouTube has denied previous rumours of a takeover.

YouTube chief executive Chad Hurley said earlier this year that the company was not for sale and a future share flotation was possible.

A potential future problem for YouTube and any buyer, is that a great many users put up their favourite music videos and film clips, for which they have not gained copyright approval.

YouTube has an estimated 20 million individual visitors each month.

[beltman713]

The way it is growing they should just keep it, because one day it could be as big as google.

[PhilosophyGenius]

Just as long as they dont change anything.

[Cloak & Swagger]

Just as long as they dont change anything.

Yeah, and if Google can't change it, they'll just censor it.
I don't mind them making improvements, but why would they need to acquire another video service in order to do that? The Money they'll spend on Youtube could just as easily be spent on expanding and improving an already existing video service that they provide.
One reason could possibly be that they see Youtube as a threat in the future. Youtube would only threaten them by offering something that they don't, won't, and/or can't offer. The content of which is dependent on what viewers like and where people can achieve greater exposure.
Hmmmm, maybe one of those reasons why the content is much more appealing on Youtube vs Google is because Youtube doesn't censor shit like Google does.