Google is celebrating another landmark in online video having become the first organization to chalk up 10 billion clip views in the United States a single month. The figures come as the firm appears close to ending a nine-month standoff which has kept Warner music videos off YouTube.

The figures from ComScore showed that the American Web users watched a total of 25 billion clips during August. Google continues to dominate the market with a fraction under a 40 percent share of that audience, while no other firm achieved even a 3 percent share. YouTube was said to make up “99 percent” of Google’s video views, meaning it fell just short of breaking the 10 billion mark by itself.

Google’s lead was built up by the fact that its average user watched more than 80 clips during the month, while those who visited the online video sites of Viacom and Hulu watched around 13 clips. Of course, that’s partially down to those sites concentrating more on full-length TV shows, so the total time spent on the sites may be closer.

Meanwhile YouTube is said by the Wall Street Journal to be close to a deal to bring back music videos and other content controlled by Warner Music. The record giant pulled its content from the site last December in a row about how to calculate royalties and compensate Warner for the fact that Google could make money selling advertisements besides the clips.

The reported deal would see Warner take control of the relevant adverts, paying a commission to YouTube. The firm would also be allowed to customize pages hosting clips by featured artists to include links to its own Web sites. Unlike a similar deal between YouTube and Universal, the Warner clips would be hosted on the main YouTube site itself.

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 12:06 pm under Google, Music, Online video, YouTube.

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