Probably because the costs of building it are sunk, and it fills nitches in the online video space that complements YouTube and keeps out competitors.

Google video is great. Tons of documentaries.

Uh, because it's superior. And:

http://video.yahoo.com/ http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us

etc

Search engines are simply always going to have video components. It's not going away ever.

It just target different audience. There is no need for it to be "like Youtube" or just disappear. It serves completely different purpose as documentaries (mentioned here), conference talks and etc.

Personally, I find it at least as useful as Youtube if not more.

One thing I like about Google Video is that you can download the files.

You can download the files from any of the video sites... it just takes a bit more effort.

A better SNR than the others.

Silly question, Wired. Would you ask why NBC keeps the Sci-Fi Channel alive under that name, or why Disney/ABC keeps ESPN alive under that name?

It's branding. "Google Video" has a certain meaning to viewers, and "YouTube" has a different meaning.

Even if they get the same backends, it would make sense to have more serious and educational videos on "Google Video", while music, entertainment and amateur videos live on "YouTube".

The article says youtube vids are capped at 10min, but

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EsEYpJMYIIw

30min vid

I dont want to burst your bubble or sound like a smartass, but just want to clarify this. That video is 30 minutes long, because it is hosted on one of the older accounts before the policy was changed - signing up for any new accounts limits you in the limit and size of the videos you can upload (1gb and 10mins respectively).

So in this regard the article is correct.

http://help.youtube.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer...

Personal note: I suspect Google introduced this policy to ensure that Google Video is not rendered obsolete.

are you sure that google introduced this limit? as far as i know, youtube had this limit quite a long time before being acquired.

Yes, YouTube had that limit long before the acquisition.

so the limit doesn't apply to old accounts, even if they post stuff today. thanks. don't see why that'd be bubble bursting or anything. i wanted to know.