Two weeks ago it may have been difficult to find videos on the
Internet of deep-space investigation, concerts by University of
California symphonies and vivid performances by Middle Eastern
dance ensembles.
Now, these videos constitute only a small part of more than
1,000 hours of UC Television programming available on the free
Google Video service. An agreement between UCTV and Internet
search-engine giant Google Inc., which the UC announced on
Wednesday, has made this possible.
UCTV’s programming constitutes the largest collection of
educational video content on Google Video, providing information on
subjects such as public affairs, science, health and medicine,
humanities and the arts.
“Finding reliable, accurate content on the Internet is so
important today, and we know UCTV’s content will meet this
need for Google Video’s users,” said UCTV Director Lynn
Burnstan.
UCTV is a 24-hour public-service satellite channel that features
interviews, lectures, documentaries and performances as well as
discussions of educational issues, with guests ranging from
scientists to CEOs.
The channel broadcasts programming from the UC’s 10
campuses, the three national laboratories managed by the UC for the
federal government and other university-affiliated
institutions.
UCTV content is currently available to more than 16 million
households nationwide via Direct Broadcast Satellite and Dish
Network channel 9412. The channel is also available through the
cable provided in UCLA on-campus housing.
Google Video is currently the largest service through which
videos can be uploaded, distributed and viewed on demand by users,
Google spokesman Nathan Tyler said.
The service allows people to watch and buy high-quality video
content, which Tyler said works toward Google’s mission to
“organize all the world’s information.”
Internet users everywhere can now access videos of content
ranging from detailed scenes of surgery to colorful dances and
performances by UC student groups.
UCTV programming has been available on Google Video for two
weeks, and the channel is hoping to eventually double the available
content to include the over 2,000 hours of programming currently in
UCTV databases, UCTV Communication Manager Alison Gang said.
The channel is working as quickly as possible to add the content
to Google Video, Gang said. She did not say whether there is a
specific date by which this will be completed.
Gang said UCTV hopes the association with Google Video will make
people more aware of the channel and the UC while providing
valuable information for Internet users.
While Google Video is the only online video service to receive
UCTV content so far, the channel is considering offering its
content to other services, such as Yahoo and AOL, as expansion
becomes possible, Gang said.