youtube

I use youtube already on a daily basis, for a variety of reasons. Its a great time-waster, as well as having lots of useful instructional videos for everything from computer programs to crafting to makeup.

One of the ways I use youtube most often, to be honest, is to watch tv shows. I've found several shows from my childhood uploaded, which aren't available on DVD, and its great to walk down memory lane. But largely the tv shows I watch on youtube are British shows which aren't available in America - but (pretty much always illegally probably) British users will upload whole shows very shortly after an episode airs in the UK, and it makes it so easy to follow other programs than what's on American tv.

But in addition to users illicitly uploading, a lot of shows and tv channels will have thier own account, and upload great high quality snippets from shows, in order to boost interest and introduce viewers to characters & storylines.

While I can't watch anything on the actual BBC youtube channel, because it is for UK viewers/ip addresses only, BBC has set up a separate account, BBCWorldwide, which I find really interesting. They've uploaded hundreds of videos from hundreds of episodes of so many of their most notable shows, for instance, the Doctor Who clip below, as well as lots from much older and perhaps more obscure shows, like A Bit of Fry & Laurie, also below


Doctor Who



A Bit of Fry & Laurie

I think that this is an excellent example of what youtube offers any company, be it a library or library system, a business, a tv network, or even just one person - the chance to expose themselves to the world, and share whatever they wish.