Lonely Planet has launched a travel Channel on YouTube TM, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. The new Channel, found at youtube.com/lonelyplanet will feature a selection of the best travel videos from Lonely Planet’s own online video-sharing website, LonelyPlanet.tv and exclusive content such as previews and behind-the-scenes footage from upcoming Lonely Planet Television shows. The Channel will launch with 20 videos from LonelyPlanet.tv, and new clips will be added every week.

Lonely Planet’s own video sharing website LonelyPlanet.tv allows travellers to upload, watch, rate and share their own videos as well as watch videos created by Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet’s Television production team uses the website to scout for new filmmaking talent and pays US$500 for the best videos uploaded to the site.

Discoveries include amateur filmmaking duo Jenny Williams and Randy Reines who now share their clips with an even bigger audience of like-minded travellers on Lonely Planet’s YouTube Channel.

Jenny and Randy are two California natives who have spent three years travelling through the Middle East, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and now Central America. Their video Varanasi: Alleys and Ghats features on Lonely Planet’s new YouTube Channel.

“We came to LonelyPlanet.tv as amateurs. Lonely Planet bought two clips from the first video we ever made,” said Jenny Williams. “We were thrilled. It presented an exciting opportunity to share our journey with a much wider audience. Before then, we hadn’t really taken our filmmaking seriously; now, we feel encouraged to make more travel videos and really hone our craft.”

Another travelling duo, Dave Kellogg and Brendan Madden, have their hilarious Dammed Yangtze video featured on Lonely Planet’s new YouTube Channel. Currently living in Qingdao, China, they began uploading their videos to LonelyPlanet.tv five months ago, since then Lonely Planet has purchased several of their videos.

Dave is passionate about the internet as an outlet for sharing and recording experiences: “Millions in the world can spread their voices using the world’s most influential medium – the moving picture – and have a place to publish their voices. No longer is such a powerful and fun tool an elite medium. It is in the hands of the masses,” he said.

According to Ms Laurence Billiet, Head of Lonely Planet Television, “We are constantly amazed by the creativity and adventurousness of our community of travellers. Their videos go so far beyond clichéd holiday snapshots, their immediacy and spontaneity really make you feel like you've smuggled yourself inside someone's suitcase and rediscovered the excitement of travel.  The new Lonely Planet YouTube Channel is an exciting way for us to showcase these inspiring videos to the YouTube community.”

LonelyPlanet.TV currently hosts over 2,000 engaging travel videos, the best of which will feature on the Lonely Planet YouTube Channel beginning on 10 April 2008.