“Result of continuous discussions with Google, Maltese Youtube users can now be rewarded for their work” – Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri
Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri expressed great satisfaction over Youtube’s decision to launch a country-specific version and local domain for Malta available in English at youtube.com.mt.
“This decision is a result of discussions the Maltese government had with Google. After having noted the petition of local content creators for Malta to be included in Google’s YouTube Partnership Programme, we have actively lobbied with Google both on a national and European level. It is of great satisfaction to see that in the coming months Maltese talent will finally be rewarded for their content created and posted on youtube.com.mt We encourage all content creators to use this channel responsibly, to take the opportunity to promote their talent and our country. I personally thank Google for the trust shown in Malta, for listening to our concerns, and for their contribution in bolstering Malta’s digital economy”, said Silvio Schembri. Earlier in the year, the Maltese government worked closely with Google to launch the $150 million Google Digital News Innovation Fund for the local online news and media agencies.
Enrico Bellini, Public Policy Manager, Google, said, “We have heard loud and clear the requests from our local community in Malta and we hope that with a dedicated domain and the upcoming open up of the YouTube Partnership Programme (YPP) in September, we help pave the way for the work of more Maltese creators, artists, and musicians to shine on the world most vibrant video community.”
Youtube’s decision is of significance for viewers and fans in Malta meaning that it will make it easier to discover local creators and content. Youtube now has local versions in more than 90 countries, including Malta.
This is the first step towards introducing the opportunity to become a partner. In fact, later this year, Youtube will be expanding its Youtube Partnership Programme to Malta, making the programme available to the growing ecosystem of local creators. This will enable creators to earn money from their videos and have access to a wide range of tools and resources to make the most of their content on Youtube.