James Delahunty
16 Jan 2008 0:13
A YouTube Mexico service was launched back in October as a result of heavy traffic on the English YouTube page and Spain country page from Mexico. Entertainment companies in the country are hoping to turn Yahoo Mexico's focus on local content into a revenue stream. YouTube is currently touring the country with representatives demonstrating how to upload videos to the service.
"Before we think about the monetization aspect, we need to make sure the community finds the site interesting," YouTube international product manager Luis Garcia said. Entertainment cable channel Exa TV, newspaper El Universal, modeling agency Contempo Models and soccer site Medio Tiempo have signed on as local content partners to the service.
YouTube Mexico is also an important source for the local music companies. Warner Music Mexico talent executive Alejandro Abaroa said that YouTube Mexico increases exposure for local acts."It's a beginning effort," Reuters reports Abaroa as saying. "Maybe next month it's not going to be a hit anymore. The minute you hear about it, you have to grab it."