Google Video Shutting Down

[Peter]

Google have announced that Google video will be shutting down.

Google is shutting down its premium video service, leaving users who have bought or rented content unable to view their videos in the future.

In an e-mail to users the web giant said that money spent on videos would not be refunded.

Customers are being offered fixed credit on the firm's online payment system, Google Checkout, instead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6944292.stm

Also what is shameless about this is that not only (as the quote above states) will users be unable to view videos they have purchased but Google is utilizing this to try and bolster Google checkout. They are *giving* users who paid for content $5 (no proper refunds available) which expires in 60 days. So if you spent $1 you will get $5 in credit and if you spent $50 you will still only get $5 in credit, not exactly much compensation is it.

 

[shockie]

shutting down google video isn't that surprising given the acquisition of youtube, but this refund "system" is pretty ridiculous. the very least they could do is give proper monetary credit, if not even a bit more for the hassle, etc.

 

[OpenAreas]

Hmm, youtube is what they have.. no point having 2

 

[Peter]

They should have amalgamated them better and transfered the videos over to youtube and allowed the people the right to carry on viewing what they had paid for.

Instead what they seem to have done is offer them an insulting token gesture.

 

[mwzd]

Do they even have any paid subscribers?

I'm sure the number must be small enough,

Plus I'm sure that they've already ported the content to YouTube in any case.

 

[Peter]

Do they even have any paid subscribers?

Obviously they do otherwise they would not have the token gesture to paying customers

Plus I'm sure that they've already ported the content to YouTube in any case.

No they have not hence the need for refunds. The paid for content is things such as episodes of CSI etc.

 

[mwzd]

Oh ok, we can't even access gv in India due to local laws

But youtube works fine,

go figure

 

[angisson]

yeah, title is a little miss leading. google is still going to keep google video just dis continue any DTR, or DTO (Download-to-rent/own) services.


and from user reports on bogs and else where they been getting back the full amount of money they gave google video, but I guess we will wait and see.

One last note BBC is a little slow, the story broke on or about August 10th.

 

[ssamriga]

well youtube is the only popular enough video network to bring some revenue...

 

[Red_Spider]

Youtube really rocks anytime...

 

[Darkneoboi]

I have known this for a while. This is old news, lol.

 

[Jeffrey]

Shutting it down is rightly so. Google is spending money too much, and Google is giving every services for free. So it's time to earn more by giving less refund! :D

 

[CarlosACFL]

"well youtube is the only popular enough video network to bring some revenue...?"


Are you kidding me? There are a ton of video networks making a ton of money. YouTube is cool no doubt about it but it is not the only video network bringing in revenue man it's just the biggest name.

 

[Optinom]

Well, most of these video networks are basically running on copyrighted content... I'm sure more than 60% of Youtube visitors go there to see music videos & movies of big artistes.

 

[vatsan]

Well, most of these video networks are basically running on copyrighted content... I'm sure more than 60% of Youtube visitors go there to see music videos & movies of big artistes.

I even run a webite for this :D. gonna miss google video. They offered unlimited space compared to youtube's 10mins. And also using these online downloaders you can download google videos in avi format which is pretty cool.

 

[dezinerite]

I never really use it anyway, most people go to youtube to watch videos.

 

[snowbird]

I use youtube from time to time. Sometimes there is some interesting stuff on there. I suppose it makes sense for google to shut down their own service seeing how YouTube is probably more known and developed.

 

[deleted984054565403]

Hopefully Google will integrate these features into YouTube -- Google Video was unique, and I liked the longer minimum length of videos and the downloadable videos.

It's possible to get around both, though -- become a director for longer videos, or use an flv downloader to download videos.

 

[NameSigma]

this has to be happen one day :D

 

[dnb8]

I liked google video for this long videos, at youtube you can only put 10 minutes long.