Google to Shut Down Google Video

Google launched its original video viewing and sharing service, Google Video, on January 25, 2005. On October 29, 2006 Google acquired YouTube. In May 2009, Google discontinued the ability to let users upload content to Google Video. And on April 29, 2011 Google will finally shut Google Video down.

On that date, Google will officially transition the site from a video viewing and sharing service to a video search engine, which will make YouTube the company’s one and only major video viewing and sharing destination (and hopefully encourage ComScore to change the company’s name in its monthly Online Video Rankings

from “Google Sites” to “YouTube”).

The news came in the form of an e-mail addressed to Google Video users late last week:

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 videohosting 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:

1) Go to the Video Status page.

2) 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

It’s about time. Google Video basically became obsolete when YouTube developed serious traction before and after the acquisition. Now Google Video joins that special place in the Deadpool reserved for online video sharing sites. It rests alongside the latest video service to get 86ed, Yahoo’s UGC. Who do you think is next to join them? My money’s on, Veoh.