Mashable is reporting that Google Video has now become available in 7 new European countries, including the UK. According to Mashable:

Google Video has launched a series of European versions and announced deals with partners including AETN, Buena Vista Television International, FC Barcelona, IMG Media, ITN, Premium TV and TalkbackThames.

Many of those names are UK TV companies, and so this may be great news for UK users, who up till now have not had any paid UK content available to them. I, for example, do not have satellite or cable, and might well therefore be interested in good quality programming which I otherwise would not see.

On a sidenote, a big shake-up of the UK online TV space is to come fairly soon, with the launch of the BBC’s iPlayer. The system runs on Microsoft’s PlaysForSure DRM to enable the BBC to allow downloading and playing of TV and radio programmes up to seven days after they have been shown, all covered by the Licence Fee. [For those outside the UK, the Licence Fee is a compulsary fee paid by anyone who wishes to watch television. The whole fee goes to the BBC, and not to any commercial channels.]. This is currently in trial period, but is very likely to go ahead. Once it does, UK users will for once be the envy of the rest of the world!