YouTube VS YouKu

YouTube vs YouKu:

YouTube is an online video sharing platform founded back in 2005, the site is one of the worlds most popular video sites on the internet to date. YouTube is available in almost every country, allowing anyone to upload content where ever they are in the world. Over the years, YouTube has grown to such a high that it is actually people’s jobs being a ‘youtuber’ creating content whether that being funny sitcoms or recipes or even just vlogging your everyday life, this content produces audiences of millions being communicated through subscriptions, views, likes and comments.

1,300,000,000 views hit YouTube every single day, with over 30 million site visits. The sites main functions consists’ of:

•        Users searching for and watching videos
•        Creating a personal account/ channel
•        Uploading content
•        Liking/sharing/commenting on videos
•        Subscribing to channels

These main functions

The YouTube homepage becomes yours when using it with a YouTube account, after time it generates videos you have watched from certain viewers or even a genre of music you have listened to and beings to create personalized results, learning your preferences. For example, if I am looking for videos teaching how to make pasta, the next time I log in or refresh my page, YouTube will automatically generate videos similar to that as they know that it is something I have looked into before. As well as offering trending topics of what everyone is watching, this is calculated on how many views a video has, updating roughly every 15 minutes.

YouKu is one of Chinas top online video and streaming platforms. The site was originally launched in 2006 and was ranked number one in the Chinese internet video sector in 2010. YouKu enables streaming services like films or shows famed from YouTube (China does not have YouTube) so it allows more access for its users. When YouKu first started it was almost like Chinas version of YouTube but has over the years formed partnership with companies and changed in the respect of specializing web rebroadcasts of shows with their own ads.

Similarities:

Adverts:

YouTube allow you to skip an advert after the ad has played at least 5 seconds, establishing what it is. However, YouKu have a more TV approach not letting you skip in which the ads can play from 30 to 72 seconds.

Channels:

Both sites allow you to make a channel whether it be a personal account or an account for a large brand like Apple. On YouTube you are able to group your videos together have a header image and background etc. Youku offers more in terms of advertisement, the site allows brands to add their own promotional videos after one of their general ads to your own video as well as setting up online stores accessible from your channel allowing viewers to buy what they see in videos straight away. This is great for both parties in terms of allowing sales to rise for the brand and also creating a new, quick experience for the viewer.

As I mentioned previously that YouTube generates a personalized homepage for you based on your previously watched/searched history, this delivers a service to the viewer making it easy and accessible to find videos or even something the viewer may not chose for their self. However, YouKu doesn’t generate recommendations it just shows what is popular and what is new at the time of viewing.

This is my own personal YouTube channel homepage:

 I personally prefer YouTube for obvious reasons, it is internationally friendly and caters to a large audience with all different types of videos whereas YouKu is more catered to the eastern culture.