Google Video, the video hosting website which was a former rival of YouTube (before being bought over by Google), will stop hosting videos from April 29 this year. Google had stopped users from uploading new content of Google Videos since May 2009.
In a mail sent out to users who have uploaded content on the site, Google has asked them to download their content or move it over to YouTube.
Here is a copy of the letter being cirulated by Google:
Dear Google Video User,
Later this month, hosted video content on Google Video will no longer be available for playback. Google Video stopped taking uploads in May 2009 and now we’re removing the remaining hosted content. We’ve always maintained that the strength of Google Video is its ability to let people search videos from across the web, regardless of where those videos are hosted. And this move will enable us to focus on developing these technologies further to the benefit of searchers worldwide.
On April 29, 2011, videos that have been uploaded to Google Video will no longer be available for playback. We’ve added a Download button to the video status page, so you can download any video content you want to save. If you don’t want to download your content, you don’t need to do anything. (The Download feature will be disabled after May 13, 2011.)
We encourage you to move to your content to YouTube if you haven’t done so already. YouTube offers many video hosting options including the ability to share your videos privately or in an unlisted manner. To learn more go here.
Here’s how to download your videos:
Go to the Video Status page.
To download a video to your computer, click the Download Video link located on the right side of each of your videos in the Actions column.Once a video has been downloaded, “Already Downloaded” will appear next to the Download Video link.
If you have many videos on Google Video, you may need to use the paging controls located on the bottom right of the page to access them all.
Please note: This download option will be available through May 13, 2011.
Thank you for being a Google Video user.
Sincerely,
The Google Video Team
Google Video was launched back in 2005 but within no time YouTube came onto the scene and gave a completely new meaning to the ‘going viral’ terminology. It was eventually bought over by Google. The death of Google Video was inevitable after it stopped accepting uploads from users in May 2009. And let’s face it, YouTube is synonymous with video hosting service.