Localised versions are now available in Britain, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, YouTube co-founder Steve Chen told a press conference Tuesday.

A German version should become operational soon as well, and site offerings are to be extended to other countries.

"YouTube will now be more accessible and interesting to a worldwide audience, and we look forward to rolling out in other countries in the months to come," Chad Hurley, YouTube's other co-founder, said in a statement.

YouTube, acquired by the US search engine Google in October last year, said it had signed partnership agreements with such international content providers as the BBC, the French all news channel France 24 and the French public-service television company France Televisions, as well as the Spanish channels Antena 3 and Cuatro TV.