YouTube rolls out offline viewing app for mobile devices
YOUTUBE yesterday launched an application that will allow users to watch its videos when they are offline.
“Videos will be available for viewing for 48 hours after they’re downloaded on to their mobile device,” said Ariya Banomyong, head of YouTube Thailand.
The population of 45 million |mobile Internet users reflects the fact that the YouTube is a crucial mainstream medium, following television, which brands should not ignore, he said.
Unlike television, YouTube allows consumers to be both content partners and creators along with brands. It can be said that YouTube is the largest online TV platform.
The top content categories on YouTube in Thailand are entertainment, music, games and TV dramas.
“YouTube is the crucial tool to help brands engage with their customers,” Ariya said.
YouTube has also joined forces with mobile operators to promote a video data plan at prices starting at Bt29 per month that allows watching unlimited YouTube videos.
Gautam Anand, director of YouTube partnerships and operations for Google Asia-Pacific, said YouTube worldwide was viewed 6 billion hours per month, an increase of 50 per cent year over year. In Thailand, YouTube viewing is up 110 per cent.
About 40 per cent of people come back to watch YouTube every day.
“YouTube is an online community with over 1 billion members. Content is now global, from everywhere for everyone,” he said.
More than half of YouTube viewing is on mobile devices. Mobile viewing in the Asia-Pacific region is higher, especially in South Korea, where more than 70 per cent of YouTube viewing is on mobile devices.
Top 10 in watching times
One year after the debut of YouTube Thailand, it ranks among the medium’s top 10 worldwide in watching times. About 50 per cent is watched on mobile devices, and video content uploaded is up 50 per cent.
YouTube shares more than half of revenue generated from advertising with content creators.
There are 15 YouTube channels in Thailand with more than a million subscribers.
“The ecosystem of online video in Thailand is strongly growing, including content creators, content partners, brands and advertisers, as well as viewers,” Anand said.
