The success of YouTube’s “click-to-buy’ ads program launched last fall in the U.S. and U.K, has led to the announcement this week that they are expanding this program into Germany, Spain and the Netherlands (not available in Canada yet, so we can’t check it out from here).

The program allows viewers to click on ads to buy content related to what they’re watching.  The program started with ads that embed links from Amazon and iTunes on videos. 

YouTube said click-to-buy ads had helped boost sales of Monty Python DVDs "23,000%," prompting it to reach No. 2 on Amazon's Movies and TV bestsellers list after the celebrated comedy troupe launched a YouTube channel in November.

There’s controversy from users who feel like advertisers are infiltrating their personal space, especially because because they’re not only serving up advertisements around a video but as an overlay on top the video.  Regardless, retailers are taking notice and are already experimenting in this space by posting their own product videos.  So this is interesting because right now it’s primarily media products, but they’re planning on expanding to other product types which will be appealing to all types of retailers. 

MediaPost Publications YouTube Expands Click-To-Buy Ads 01/22/2009