LONDON — YouTube has become a “seven figure” business for the Associated Press says Sandy MacIntyre, Vice President and Director of International Video News, in this segment from our recent video journalism summit at the headquarters of the Financial Times.

The AP channel on YouTube, launched in 2006, recently crossed over the 1 billion views, making it the most popular video news source on the Web.

Whilst the AP has established a seven figure business  and MacIntrye says it “could go to eight figures,” the business opportunities for publishers around YouTube are being sorted out.

Also commenting on opportunities with YouTube in this segment are Gregory Beitchman, Global Head of Multimedia for Thomson Reuters and Peter Bale, VP and GM for CNN International Digital.

Surfing Goats Could be Big

The AP publishes a range of news videos from serious to humorous.  One which could be a viral hit for the news agency is this California man and his surfing goats which was published yesterday.

Update:  7.16  The Associated Press reports on the growth of YouTube as a news source.

Andy Plesser