YouTube UK Blog

Muse: Live on YouTube for Warchild

2013-02-14T06:23:00.001-08:00

War Child’s much anticipated event at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire featuring Muse will be streamed live and uninterrupted on YouTube from 9:30pm GMT on Monday, February 18. Watching the gig live online is now your only chance to get involved as all general admission tickets sold out in just three-minutes.

The event marks the start of War Child’s 20th Anniversary Year and comes ahead of War Child’s Special Recognition Award to be presented at the BRIT Awards, where Muse are nominated for British Group and British Live Act.

This year War Child marks two decades of work protecting the innocent victims of war. War Child UK has saved and transformed the lives of more than 800,000 children in the world’s most war-torn countries, children who would otherwise have been forgotten. From Bosnia, Chechnya and Rwanda to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo, War Child have given children the security, care, education and skills they need to build a better future for themselves. For more information on War Child go to the charity's web site -- and don't forget to tun in on Monday for what promises to be a blistering show.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Harlem Shake (original army edition)”.

Game on: Brand new YouTube experience on PlayStation 3 in 19 new countries

2013-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

If you’re like us, you’ve probably been making the most of these long winter nights scoring ridiculous goals, fighting aliens, and all other kinds of heroic pursuits on your games consoles. While you’re there, you should have a look at the YouTube app - you’re sure to have a happy surprise. As of today, we have radically improved the YouTube experience on PlayStation 3 in 19 countries, hot on the heels of similar improvements on the other major consoles.

We have a completely new experience, designed for the big screen and console controls. Here’s what you’ll find on your PS3:

Search: Finding the videos you want is easier than ever, with search suggestions and instant video results while you type.
Channels you love: Sign in to find the latest videos from your YouTube subscriptions, which now also includes HD and official music videos.
Your phone as a remote: With a quick pairing process, you can control YouTube with your smartphone. Find a video on your phone and—with a click of a button—it’ll play on the big screen. While the video is playing on your TV you can control it from the phone, or keep browsing YouTube for the next one.
Language support: Set your language on your PS3 and use the new YouTube app in your language. The following languages are supported: English, Swedish, Italian, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian.

This release brings the new app to PlayStation 3 in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Peter Sherman, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Level 99 Skater”.

YouTube in Rewind: What You Watched in 2012

2012-12-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

It’s the time of year again to pause, rewind and remember the videos, entertainers and moments that captivated you in 2012.

Over the past 12 months Korean Pop transcended boundaries and took the world by storm. Cover songs, parodies and truly epic events entertained us in countries near and far. You participated in conversations at a global scale, uploading videos to share ideas on everything from nonprofit campaigns to political satire to new and surprising voices and talents. Plus, all over the world, you tuned in for the most up-to-date news footage of elections, natural disasters and more.

2012 has been a big year for YouTube. You’ve been watching more than 4 billion hours of video a month. Millions of creators are using YouTube channels to experiment with innovative forms of entertainment, explore their passions and interests, and take creativity and pop culture to new levels. 2012’s top trending videos and top channels showcase this creative ingenuity in ways we'd never before thought possible.

Check out the YouTube Rewind channel to explore the trending videos of the year and popular channels in your country. For the UK, here’s what we were all talking about in 2012:

Top Trending YouTube Videos

And be sure to check out some of the top hits from the global lists on the YouTube Rewind channel taking in fashion and beauty, news and politics, and more.

Jayme Goldstein, YouTube marketing, recently watched "Laurent Garnier B2B Yousef in the Mixmag DJ Lab".

The Nobel Prize: Live Today

2012-12-10T03:45:00.000-08:00

The Nobel Prize has been awarded annually since 1901 for world achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. This year the Nobel Foundation has teamed up with Google to livestream some of the key events during the Nobel Week on YouTube.

Today, the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies are streamed live from Oslo and Stockholm. Make sure to tune in and watch the proceedings live from 11.50am-5pm GMT (12.50-18.00 CET).

Over the weekend the Nobel lectures given by the Nobel laureates were live streamed from Stockholm. Online audiences were invited to ask questions via Google Moderator for the Nobel Week Dialogue -- a full day of panel discussion with Nobel laureates, members of Barack Obama’s administration and other prominent politicians and authors. You can see all this and more at the Nobel Prize channel and engage on Google+ at google.com/+NobelPrize.

Jamie Dolling, YouTube UK, recently watched "2009 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture by Barack Obama".

Rihanna: 777 Live On YouTube

2012-11-16T09:37:00.001-08:00

Seven countries, seven days, the release of a seventh album in “Unapologetic”: Rihanna is having quite a week of it on the 777 tour, and on Monday you can catch up with her live at a top secret venue in London before she boards a Boeing-777 with 150 journalists and fans and heads to New York for the concluding date.

Scheduled to start at 9pm (GMT) on the official release date of “Unapologetic”, sets so far have included versions of “Man Down”, “Only Girl In The World”, “Diamonds”, “Umbrella” and “We Found Love”, so if you’re a RiRi obsessive make no mistake: youtube.com/RihannaLive is the only place to be Monday evening.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “BT Infinity Presents an exclusive LIVE gig with Conor Maynard”.

Peace One Day Concert: Live on YouTube

2012-09-14T03:25:00.001-07:00

On Friday, September 21, Elton John will perform live on YouTube, headlining the Peace One Day Celebration ‘Global Truce 2012’ concert at Wembley Arena.

Staged on Peace Day, the concert also includes performances from BRIT award-winning James Morrison and YouTube sensations 2CELLOS. There will be introductions from Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law, Lily Cole and the organisation’s founder, Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize-winner, Jeremy Gilley. The show is set to be the biggest event of Peace One Day’s groundbreaking 13-year history.

Viewers will be able to discuss the live stream on the Peace One Day YouTube channel with Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

In 1999 film-maker Jeremy Gilley founded the non-profit organisation to lead a process that resulted in the unanimous adoption by UN member states of the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. With the day in place, Peace One Day works to establish Peace Day around the world. Since the adoption of the Peace Day resolution in 2001, activities on September 21 have enabled families to be reunited, mosquito nets and food aid to be delivered, and children to be vaccinated all over the world. Not only has Peace Day been proved as a catalyst for life-saving activity it has also become an annual platform for widescale civil society action towards a more peaceful world.

Subscribe to the Peace One Day channel or follow them on Google+ to learn more about their Global Truce campaign.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched "Student Activation Launch 27 Feb 2012".

Bestival: Live on YouTube

2012-08-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

Bestival, the technology-loving, fancy-dressing, award-winning festival turns its sights on YouTube this year, offering the community -- wherever they may be -- the chance to tune in to the action from the event’s Main Stage and Big Top from September 7-9.

Florence + The Machine, The XX and Azealia Banks lead one of Bestival’s strongest line-ups in its nine-year history, with performances streamed from youtube.com/BestivalTV in real time. Also expect sets from the likes of Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, Emeli Sandé, Bat For Lashes, Orbital, Miike Snow and New Order. The detailed daily program of the live stream will be available on the Bestival YouTube channel.

Once Bestival comes to a close, individual songs from acts will be available on-demand for the next 90 days on the Bestival YouTube channel. But don’t let that prevent you from getting involved in the action live -- things have a tendency to happen at Bestival, so see them on YouTube first.

Posted by Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Canoeists Stunned At Swimming Koala”.

European creators: could you be YouTube’s next big thing?

2012-08-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Our NextUp program has unearthed some fantastic creative talent over the last year and we’re delighted to announce that today we’re launching the project again for European YouTube partners.

NextUp is a development program exclusively designed for YouTube Partners with bags of potential. We’d love to see even more partners using the site as a launchpad to career success, so we’re supporting them through funding, education and promotions via NextUp. By helping them invest in new equipment and training, talented creators are going to develop whole new genres and online experiences for audiences around the world - ironing skydiving anyone?

Eligibility

So, let’s get down to the details. If you’re an official YouTube partner in either France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, or the UK and are 18+ years old on the day of application, then you could be eligible to enter. Your channel must have between 5,000 - 100,000 subscribers as of August 17th 2012 and you must have uploaded at least 6 public videos to your channel in the last 6 months (February 17th 2012 - August 17th 2012). If you meet the eligibility requirements, then you can apply here.

In order to apply, you’ll need to submit one pilot video and answer one free response question:

The pilot video should be an example of the project you want to create for your channel, and demonstrate your creativity, talent, and skill with video-creation and storytelling (the video should be max. 3 minutes in length).
The open response question is a written outline of your YouTube project. It is required to provide additional context to your video pilot entry and has a 400 word limit.

Applications are open until September 23rd 2012. Once applications close, a panel of YouTube judges and the 2011 NextUp winners will select 25 winners from across Europe.

Prizes

Winners will receive an all expenses paid to trip to London, where you’ll be able to attend a week of hands-on training and mentorship in our brand new creator space, complete with studios, editing suites and the latest audio-visual equipment. In addition, winners will get a €4,000 video equipment package and €3,000 in cash to help boost the quality of your content as well as promotion across YouTube to help you build your audience

We can’t wait to see what creative ideas you all come up with in 2012!

Kinzie Kramer, YouTube Partner Marketing, recently watched "Come With Us -- Lindsey Stirling & Can't Stop Won't Stop".

Summer in the City: Live on YouTube

2012-08-17T06:03:00.002-07:00

This weekend we’re looking forward to attending Summer in the City in London, an annual gathering of the YouTube clans that has seen its audience grow to more than 1,500 in just four years.

Here’s a message from the founders:

This year the event will be held at The Brewery in Central London. Whether you’re a creator, producer, or a fan, there are activities including workshops, games, exhibitions, live musical performances and more. Admission is free, so if you’re in London head down from noon on Friday, and 11am on Saturday.

We’ll be hosting a room where you can speak directly with YouTube experts about your channel, including tips and tricks to get the most out of your videos. There will also be workshops on a range of topics throughout Friday and Saturday -- sign up for these here.

If you can’t attend, the Saturday evening event will also be live streamed from 5pm (BST) on the Summer in the City YouTube channel. Tune in to see what’s going on at the venue and see some of your favourite YouTube acts performing live on stage.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Kieran Doyle, YouTube Partner Operations, UK, recently watched “Team GB: Don’t Stop Me Now”.

Rock the Games: Announcing Noisettes

2012-08-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Rock the Games has added a new act to its line-up of artists performing and responding to fan questions, with Noisettes scheduled to be streamed live from 5pm this Friday, August 10.

The band joins acts like Rizzle Kicks, Lawson, Mika and Conor Maynard in playing live and answering questions gleaned from Twitter and Google+ at the London 2012 channel, so ask what you will using the hashtag #asknoisettes.

Sadly, Pixie Lott, who was scheduled to feature in Rock the Games this Friday, has had to withdraw.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Don’t Upset The Rhythm”.

Rock the Games: Announcing Conor Maynard

2012-08-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

YouTube sensation Conor Maynard (aka The British Justin Bieber) has been added to the roster of talent lined up for the Rock The Games series, which streams live from tomorrow -- August 7 -- on the official London 2012 channel.

The 19-year-old, who this week topped the album charts with debut LP “Contrast”, was signed on the strength of his YouTube channel /skillzaisherebooya, covering tracks like Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy” and is slated to play both legs of the V Festival on August 18/19.

He joins Rizzle Kicks, Lawson, Mika and Pixie Lott in answering questions gleaned from Twitter and Google+ at /London2012, using the hashtags #askpixie, #asklawson, #askmika, #askrizzlekicks and now #askconor.

So get thinking, and to inspire you here’s an interesting question put to Pixie Lott by @pixiefan_123: “If you could live off one food for five days, what food would you choose?”

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Conor Maynard Vegas Girl Intro...”

Rock the Games: Live on YouTube

2012-08-03T02:08:00.002-07:00

London 2012 isn’t just about athletic and sporting excellence, it’s also about showcasing the best that the United Kingdom has to offer -- a fact not lost on the Organising Committee, LOCOG. In that spirit they have launched the ‘Rock the Games’ programme, which sees artists perform in venues throughout the Olympics.

In addition, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) will be live streaming selected artists on their official London 2012 YouTube channel as part of the ‘Rock the Games’ music programme.

Rock the Games will feature live performances and interviews with artists performing in London 2012 venues. The YouTube community in the UK and US will have the chance to ask questions and watch some of the artists perform a song or two. The series will be hosted by presenter Gemma Cairney.

The series kicks off on Tuesday, August 7, with Rizzle Kicks (#askrizzlekicks) and Lawson (#asklawson), and will continue with artists including Mika (#askmika) and Pixie Lott (#askpixie). The full schedule of performances can be found on the London 2012 YouTube channel and updates will be provided on the London 2012 Google+ page.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched "Marley".

A Taste of EXIT: Serbian Festival Live on YouTube

2012-07-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

The summer of music continues on YouTube this weekend with a live stream of a selection of the acts set to grace the EXIT Festival, which runs from July 12-15 and is staged in Novi Sad, Serbia.
You’ll be able to tune into the Dance Arena to watch Avicii, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (T.E.E.D), Felix Da Housecat and Miss Kittin, and the Fusion stage for Kamp!, DAF, Death By Chocolate, Hatebreed and Batucada Sound Machine.

Held in the walls of an 17th Century fortress on the banks of the Danube, EXIT has to rank as one of the most atmospheric festivals in the calendar and in the past has been named “Best European Festival” by Yourope, the Association of the 40 largest festivals in Europe, so expect a treat.

To stay up to date with what’s happening on site and share your thoughts on the acts and more, head to the EXIT Festival Google+ page. Roll on Thursday.

Laura Quinn, YouTube Marketing Manager, recently watched “Introducing... the Hurtwood Prize for Young Filmmakers”.

Usher: Live From London

2012-06-11T02:00:00.001-07:00

Usher Raymond is no stranger to multi-tasking. He’s a multi-platinum pop phenomenon, a riveting dancer, a songwriter and an impresario. This is the man who signed Justin Bieber, after all. On Monday, June 11, he’ll add 'ground-breaking live performer' to his list of accomplishments, when he takes to a London stage for his American Express UNSTAGED performance, in partnership with YouTube and VEVO.

The singer will endeavor to shatter the walls between performer and audience by inviting audience members to join in the show; they’ll create virtual avatars of themselves which will appear on stage with him. He’ll also be performing songs from his new album, "Looking 4 Myself"' on the eve of its release.

The show will be directed by Hamish Hamilton, a veteran director who has shepherded concert films for the likes of U2, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and many more. Hamilton has no shortage of vision, as his behind-the-scenes look into his direction of this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show demonstrates.

Tune in this Monday to see the pyrotechnics as they happen: the show airs live on youtube.com/UsherVEVO at 1pm PT. If you miss it, be sure to catch the rebroadcast immediately afterwards. 

Sarah Bardeen, music community manager, recently watched “Usher - You Make Me Wanna...”

Missing Children's Day

2012-05-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

Missing Children Europe and its member organisations do vital work finding missing or sexually exploited children - and supporting their families in time of crisis with emotional, social and legal help via the European telephone hotline.

Google has been working with the group for a while and we’re pleased to report that the first part of our collaboration with them is now live, in time for International Missing Children’s Day, today. Thanks to Google technology embedded in their website, it’s now possible to search for publicly available information across all MCE member websites.

The European Commission is hosting a conference next week in Brussels to raise awareness about the vital work of the European 116000 Missing Children hotline. If children go missing, relatives can call the hotline and speak with specialists. Today, Missing Children Europe launched a promotional film short called “Futures”, which will run on TV, in cinemas and on YouTube:

These are great examples of how technology can help to make both the online and offline worlds a better place for children, in line with our commitments we made when we signed up to the Commission's Better Internet for Kids coalition. We’ll continue working with Missing Children Europe and its members in coming months to help them share information and work together more effectively using our technology.

Marco Pancini, Senior Policy Counsel, Google, recently watched: "Missing Children Europe -- Train".

Rock In Rio. Live From Lisbon. On YouTube.

2012-05-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Portugal or Spain? More importantly, have you ever rocked in Portugal or Spain? If you haven’t or if you have and miss it, you’ll have a chance to watch a great line-up of bands during this year’s 2012 Rock in Rio music festivals in Lisbon (May 25, 26 and June 1, 2, 3) and Madrid (June 29, 30 and July 6,7), live online exclusively on the official Rock In Rio YouTube channel.

Taking their titles from the great rock festival that began in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, this year’s concerts are happening over several days of an awesome summer, especially if you’ve got your eyes on the European concert scene. Just a mouse-click away, you’ll have more than enough chance to catch rockers like Metallica, Evanescence, Mastodon, Sepultura, Linkin Park, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Ivete Sangalo, Expensive Soul, Stevie Wonder, Bryan Adams, Joss Stone, The Gift, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Kaiser Chiefs in Lisbon. Expect to see many of the headliners’ concerts from Madrid on YouTube as well (stay tuned for updates). We’ll also be posting on-demand video from some of the coolest things happening at the events in case you miss them. You can also check out Rock In Rio Lisboa+ and Rock In Rio Madrid+ on Google+ to stay up to date with the latest and greatest concert news.

This is going to be a great summer - we’re looking forward to playing air-guitar with you on YouTube.

Federico Goldenberg, Manager of Content Partnerships, recently watched "Written In The Stars -- Tinie Tempah cover, by Karmin Music".

This Friday: Royal Ballet Live

2012-03-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the Royal Ballet opens the doors of the Royal Opera House to a worldwide audience for a day-long livestream offering unparalleled access to life as a member of the company.

Offering a glimpse into the unique environment of the ballet studio and a chance to witness the work and dedication that go into The Royal Ballet’s performances, the day will begin with a broadcast of morning class live from 10.30am (GMT). This will be followed by rehearsals from works such as "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" and "Romeo and Juliet", as well as the opportunity to see ballets in the process of being created by Wayne McGregor – The Royal Ballet’s resident choreographer - and Liam Scarlett, ahead of their world premieres on April 5.

The day will round off at 18.30 GMT as Wayne McGregor and musician/producer Mark Ronson rehearse and discuss their new ballet, "Carbon Life", in front of an invited audience.

And you can be part of the day too. As part of the online event you can submit your questions to put to the dancers and internationally renowned choreographers who work with The Royal Ballet. You’ll be able to post your comments and questions via Twitter with the hashtags #RBLive and #RBLquestions and The Royal Ballet team will choose a selection to ask live.

In the run up to Royal Ballet Live you can also unleash your inner dancer by submitting a video of yourself doing a grand jeté (a big jump!), a selection of which will be broadcast to the world. The more creative the location the better.

If you can’t tune in live, there’ll be a rebroadcast shortly afterwards and highlights from the day will be available on the Royal Opera House YouTube channel.

Laura Quinn, Marketing Manager, YouTube, recently watched "2-year-old dancing the jive".

Britain's Got Talent 2012: You Be The Judge

2012-01-06T02:24:00.000-08:00

"Britain's Got Talent" is poised to return to ITV for 2012, and along with the return of Simon Cowell and the addition of Alesha Dixon and David Walliams to the panel comes one more judge: the YouTube Community.

Last year the talent show invited would-be winners to apply via YouTube for access to an exclusive audition. This time, "Britain's Got Talent" will identify the best submissions and then ask visitors to the show's channel to decide which acts will have the opportunity to present their skills in person at the Birmingham auditions on February 18. Meaning that you, the audience, will be able to try your hand at being Simon Cowell for real. Who will you back for fame?

If you fancy your chances of making it all the way to a slot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance and trousering the show's incredible £500,000 prize, then you have until Tuesday, January 22, to upload your submission. Full details are available here.

The shortlist will be unveiled on Monday, February 6, at which point the acts will have seven days to generate as many votes as possible before the winners are settled and slots booked for an audience with the fearsome Cowell, Dixon, Holden and Walliams.

Get filming, get uploading and show "Britain's Got Talent", the judges and the YouTube community what you can do.

Jamie Dolling, YouTube UK, recently watched "Britain's Got Talent: Diversity".

Project For Awesome 2011: Charity Christmas Cheer

2011-12-16T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm Liam Dryden. I'm a UK YouTube Partner and member of YouTube's video-blogger community, and today I'd like to talk to you a bit about the Project For Awesome aka P4A.

Originally set up in 2007 by the vlogbrothers (aka John and Hank Green) and their rapidly growing subscriber base, the plan of the Project For Awesome was to take over YouTube's charts for a day with videos raising awareness and money for a wide range of charities. The date of P4A, December 17, is set a week before Christmas to remind people that the giving part of the season doesn't have to begin and end at the point of purchase.

Last year, by creating hundreds of videos talking about charity and other altruistic projects, and spending 24 hours on a mass viewing, commenting and favouriting spree of all the P4A videos across the site, all of YouTube's Most Viewed, Commented, Favourited and Rated charts were dominated by these videos between December 17th and 18th. it was a huge success, and all the vloggers whose videos had made it into the charts found their chosen charities benefitting from the event.

Every year since then, led by John and Hank every December 17, Project For Awesome has grown and grown. This weekend, P4A enters its fourth year and YouTube's gracious involvement in our gaming of their system means that a handful of people like me have been invited to show you how we do things, in case you're interested in taking part.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved, the most obvious being make a video. If you support any kind of charity that you think needs a little more awareness, then grab your camera and just tell the world a little bit about them and what people can do to help. It doesn't have to be long, most people watching will be flying through lots of different videos throughout the day anyway, so the more concise you are, the better.

If you're a YouTube Partner, there are a wide range of editable, attention-grabbing P4A thumbnails available for download at http://projectforawesome.com. Add one of these to your video to let your audience know you're involved and they'll get to work. Videos should be going live in the morning of December 17, as this is a concentrated effort lasting 24 hours.

As well as making a video, one of the most important elements of P4A is the mass watching, liking, favouriting and commenting of all the other P4A videos you come across. Many people will be linking to others, or you can search for recent "Project for Awesome" uploads (many people will be adding P4A as a tag), but it's absolutely necessary you become a part of this. With more people using YouTube every year it becomes a lot harder to make a video reach the No. 1 spots in the charts, and we need all the help we can get to make a dent in them. So with that in mind, any additional promotion you can do on sites like Twitter, Facebook or your individual blogs will be much appreciated.

This year I'm making a video for my favourite charity, Child's Play. They specialise in providing long-term patients in children's hospitals with video games, consoles, DVDs and other forms of entertainment to keep their spirits up while on the road to recovery. On top of my video, I'm holding a number of eBay auctions where I'm selling some gaming-themed t-shirts that I've worn in previous videos, and all the proceeds of those will be going towards the charity.

So I hope if you're interested, you can give my video a watch… and a comment… and maybe favourite it. Hey, it's for charity!

I'm really excited about P4A 2011; I think this is going to be the biggest year yet, and I hope you agree.
Looking forward to seeing you amongst the madness this weekend.

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

Liam Dryden, Video Blogger/Comedian, recently watched: "Alex Day - Forever Yours"

Poetic Justice: Impress The Band, Join Them In Australia on Jan. 1, 2012

2011-11-14T04:02:00.000-08:00

Dance superstars Justice have laid down a challenge to YouTube: produce a mind-blowing video cover of one the tracks from "Audio, Video, Disco" and win the opportunity to treat yourself and a friend to a similarly mind-blowing New Year's Day at the band's January 1, 2012, concert in Sydney, Australia.

Given that the French duo have a reputation for producing innovative, quirky videos, it's time to get creative: think "D.A.N.C.E" or the epic "Civilisation" (although, naturally, your production can be on a smaller scale). The creators of the top nine entries as decided by Gaspard and Xavier will join them in an exclusive Google+ Hangout at the Justice +Page to review the entries, at which point the winner will be announced.

Submissions should be made at the Justice YouTube channel and don't forget to share your efforts using Google+ and boost your profile by interacting with the band's +page, as comments will be linked directly back to their home on YouTube and will doubtless boost your chances. The competition closes at 3pm, Paris time, on December 10, so get filming if you want to start 2012 with a bang… and more than a few beats.

Jamie Dolling, YouTube UK, recently watched "Audio, Video, Disco".

Welcoming the UK’s next generation of cooking and fitness trainer stars

2011-11-10T03:05:00.000-08:00

Thinking of searching YouTube for a cooking recipe as Christmas approaches? Want some videos to help you achieve that New Year’s fitness resolution? You’re in good company. Searches on YouTube for cooking recipes soar around the end of every year, and searches for fitness exercises start kicking in around the start of the new year.

We have partners who are doing amazing things with food and fitness, and to supercharge their careers, we created the YouTube Next Chef and the YouTube Next Trainer programmes. We’d like to introduce you to the first class of partners who’ll be attending a 12-week course via Google+ Hangouts and receiving a $15,000 equipment and promotional package, all to help them share their passion for food or fitness on YouTube with you.

Representing the UK, we have FitBritsGB, who loves to cook easy meals from scratch, and one trainer, STRskillSchool who hosts an extremely popular football skills training school. They are among the 32 partners from six countries around the world.

YouTube Next Chef
The partners of the YouTube Next Chef class include self-taught chefs, cookbook authors, former restaurateurs and more. Their culinary styles range from making a full meal with just one pot to vegan desserts to gourmet on a budget, and represent five countries around the world. These partners will be taught by the finest folks in culinary arts, including editors from CHOW.com, YouTube Partners like Rob Nixon, and industry experts like Lee Allison.

YouTube Next Trainer
If fitness is your goal, our YouTube Next Trainers are here to help. This international group can teach you exercises based around city landscapes, fitness routines made for athletes, safe parkour training exercises, pilates made simple and more. Expect to see these partners get top tier training from our featured mentors Billy Blanks, YouTube Partners like DeStorm, and industry experts like Julie DelaBarre.

Stay tuned for weekly videos starting November 15 for YouTube Next Chef and November 23 for YouTube Next Trainer.

Austin Lau, YouTube Creator Programs, recently watched “The Coolest Extreme Skiing Dudes.”

Coldplay: Live from Madrid on YouTube

2011-10-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

With a string of number one singles and albums to their name, Coldplay are undoubtedly one of the biggest bands on the planet. So we’re thrilled that the group’s upcoming concert at the famous Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid will be streamed live on YouTube for fans around the world to enjoy online.

The concert starts at 9pm (BST)/10pm CET on Wednesday, October 26, and will be available through Coldplay’s official YouTube channel.

Coldplay will be celebrating the release of their new album, "MYLO XYLOTO", which features the singles "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Paradise", and the concert will be directed by Anton Corbijn, the award-winning filmmaker and celebrated photographer famed for his masterful use of striking black-and-white imagery.

The concert marks the conclusion of American Express Unstaged, a six-part series of live events produced in collaboration with YouTube, Vevo and American Express. The five previous concerts have attracted more than 40 million views, with fans worldwide tuning in to watch live performances from the likes of Arcade Fire, John Legend & The Roots, and Duran Duran.

Because this is an open air concert, there’s a small danger that inclement weather might mean the concert is delayed or even cancelled. So put on your favourite Coldplay track and perform a sun dance!

For more information about the Coldplay concert and other live initiatives we’ll be bringing to YouTube in the coming months, visit www.youtube.com/live.

Enjoy the show!

Jamie Dolling, YouTube UK, recently watched "Chris Martin on working with Brian Eno and Rihanna".

Coming to a universe near you: YouTube Space Lab

2011-10-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Can plants survive beyond Earth? Can proteins observed in space reveal the mysteries of life? Science experiments aboard the International Space Station could unlock the answers and now we're giving you a chance to ask the questions. Today, we’re launching YouTube Space Lab with Lenovo, in cooperation with Space Adventures, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Space Lab is a new galactic channel on YouTube that will lift off from your laptop, taking you to interesting and awesome videos from around the world... and beyond.

Interested students are invited to come up with an idea for a science experiment that can be conducted in space and upload a video explaining it to YouTube. The YouTube community and a panel of distinguished scientists, astronauts and expert judges, including Professor Stephen Hawking, will pick the best ones. If your video is selected, it will be performed in the International Space Station (ISS) and live streamed on YouTube to the world.

We'll also throw in some out-of-this-world prizes: like ZERO-G flights, Lenovo IdeaPad laptops and your choice of either a trip to Tanegashima Island, Japan, to watch your experiment blast off in a rocket bound for the ISS, or—once you’re 18—a one-of-a-kind astronaut training experience in Star City, Russia, the training center for Russian cosmonauts. For more information on how to enter, including eligibility requirements and experiment guidelines, check out the competition page on the channel or the official rules.

All future astronauts and space enthusiasts can find inspiration in the space related content on YouTube.com/SpaceLab. Space Lab is just one of many educational channels available under YouTube.com/EDU. Educators can also visit YouTube.com/Teachers to learn how to better incorporate video into the classroom. We're developing a YouTube for Schools pilot aimed at making YouTube accessible in more schools. If you want to be notified when it's ready, sign up here.

Blast off now and be part of a global experiment where your teacher is an astronaut and your classroom, space!

Zahaan Bharmal, YouTube Space Lab lead, recently watched "Android in Space - Nexus S on Space Shuttle Atlantis".

YouTube now has movies in the UK

2011-10-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

Back in May we brought new release movies and more for rent to YouTube in the US. Last month, we took it to Canada. Now, over a thousand full-length feature films from major Hollywood and British studios are available for rent in the UK at youtube.com/movies.

We’ve got some cracking films to keep everyone entertained through the upcoming winter months and beyond. From blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Reservoir Dogs, to new releases such as Hanna, Fast Five, and Red Riding Hood, and even British classics like Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, you can find many of your favourite films in high quality available to rent now at youtube.com/movies.

There’s always more to explore on YouTube. Many movie pages also feature YouTube Movie Extras with free behind-the-scenes videos, cast interviews, parodies, clips and remixes from YouTube’s unique community of content creators. Over time we'll also be adding additional videos and features to YouTube Movie Extras so that you can get even more into movies on YouTube.

Britain has a long history of cinema, starting from the first moving pictures being developed on celluloid film in the UK. Now British film buffs can be part of the digital revolution too, at youtube.com/movies.

Matteo Vallone, YouTube Business Product Manager, recently watched “The Big Lebowski”.

The MacTaggart Lecture: Eric Schmidt Live On YouTube

2011-08-25T03:49:00.000-07:00

The MacTaggart Lecture is the cornerstone of the Edinburgh International Television Festival and is arguably the most important media address of the calendar. Delivered to the leading lights of the media world, this year the festival is making the speech available to YouTube users in a live stream direct from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 6.45pm (BST) this Friday, August 26.

Past speakers have included media magnate Rupert Murdoch, broadcaster Jeremy Paxman and the late great Dennis Potter, writer of series like “Karaoke” and “Lipstick On Your Collar”. This year Google Chairman Dr. Eric Schmidt will be giving the lecture where he’ll discuss how the TV business can make the most of the internet opportunity. Thanks to the live stream from the Media Guardian's International Television Festival channel, you'll get to hear the message in real time.

Taking place on 26-28 August 2011, the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival is the only industry event that brings together the great and the good, the heroes and villains, the stars of the screen and the people that made it all happen.

The festival weekend - now in its 36th year - will feature a line-up of over 50 sessions that focus on the year’s finest successes, address the current issues that face us all, and provide information, celebration and networking with the cream of the television industry and beyond.

To stay abreast of developments at the festival, simply subscribe to the MGEITF channel. And don't forget to tune in on Friday at 6.45pm (BST).

Laura Quinn, YouTube UK, recently watched "MacTaggart 2010 highlights".