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YouTube finds a home in Kenya
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Submitted by IQ4News on Thu, 06/10/2011 - 4:13pm
YouTube Kenya will now offer some of the most informative and entertaining video content from around the world through a local interface that promotes the content most relevant to Kenyans. As proved by Julius Yego, javelin gold medalist at the 10th All Africa Games in Mozambique who perfected his technique by watching YouTube, there is something on YouTube for everyone. From amateur to professional content, the unexpected to the emotionally affecting, the educational to the entertaining, Kenyans now have greater flexibility to tell their stories, and find videos most useful to them.
“We are thrilled to be launching YouTube in Kenya today”, said Olga Arara-Kimani, Google Kenya’s Country Manager. “We have remarkable reserves of information right here in Kenya, from music, educational clips, news, and self-help tips. With a new localized version of YouTube, Kenyans will be able to connect and use this information more easily.”
YouTube Kenya makes it easier for local users to find and view the videos most relevant to them, by tuning search and discovery algorithms such as featured videos and homepage, as well as category spotlights. Content uploaded by users in Kenya will show up as “browse pages” on the YouTube Kenya site, creating a new virtual space for the national community and giving Kenyan users the opportunity to increase their exposure.
“YouTube opens up endless possibilities and gives people the power to broadcast themselves,” said Amani, a Kenyan artiste. “It can help link your cause to potential partners, sponsors, but most importantly it connects you with local and international fans around the globe. It is also a great way to see what other artistes are doing.”
“The Internet is opening up new channels to market the wonders of Kenya to potential tourists all over the world”, explained Hon. Najib Balala, EGH, MP, Minister for Tourism. “Ours is a beautiful country; even with the highest number of tourists’ arrivals ever recorded last year, a 15% growth compared to 2009, the sector has the potential to grow even stronger. Online video platforms like YouTube can help us achieve this potential.”
One of YouTube’s key priorities, in addition to the making the platform a comprehensive destination, is ensuring that videos load and play quickly - even in places where bandwidth is at a premium. Improving Internet access remains a key priority for internet players across Africa.
In addition to the standard YouTube experience, users have the option to watch videos with YouTube Feather. This “light” version only includes the site’s most basic features, to help ensure that those with low-speed Internet connections are able to play videos play faster. YouTube Feather can be found in TestTube (http://www.youtube.com/testtube), the area on the site where new products are tested.
Among the top YouTube channels locally are: Nation Media Group, The Standard Group Limited, Homeboyz Entertainment Limited, Koch Entertainment, ugpulse and Iroko Partners Ltd.
Other popular channels currently are: WWE, Sony ATV Publishing, Warner Bros. Entertainment, clevvertv, YashRaj Films, EMI Publishing, UMPG Publishing, OnAir Music, Warner Chappell, Vevo, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society, EMI, INgrooves, The Orchard Music, Believe, NATOarts, machinima, Tseries Music and BFM Digital.
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