Alas, YouTube lost all access to Viacom video content. But it has rapidly moved to make a deal with another marquee name: he United Kingdom's British Broadcasting Corp.

Before congratulating the GoogTube, the Wall Street Journal believes that "the BBC pact appears to fall short of the major licensing deal that YouTube has been pursuing with the U.S. TV companies." The reason is pretty straightforward; the BBC sees YouTube partly as a means to generate consumer interest in its own Web sites and TV activities. That is why the Beeb already distributes video clips through a partnership with Yahoo (ouch!).

And if this new offering appeals to you, I suggest you get a U.K. proxy address (free if you set your browser up right). That is because under the deal, the BBC news clips and some of the entertainment clips will carry advertising - but only out the U.K. And you can take your time, it won't start picking up until a few months downstream.