YouTube Is Standing Tall

Of course, the searches that drive users to YouTube may be different from the clips they view the most once on they reach the site -- or the clips they search for through YouTube's search function itself.

But much of the worry over Viacom's decision stemmed from the notion that users were routed to YouTube when searching for popular television shows they knew from television. Given that YouTube has an excellent system for suggesting video and keeping viewers hooked for clip after clip, getting users to the site would likely be more of a challenge than keeping them watching.

But it seems Viacom's muscle-flexing may not make a big difference one way or the other when it comes to this.

Evidence of YouTube's continued strength -- as well as signs that it has the kind on content to stay on a roll -- could hardly come at a better time for Google. The company's stock has stagnated lately as investors look to see whether the company can diversify its revenue stream into new markets.

And a stumble with YouTube, which Google sees as its ticket into the graphic and video ad markets, would put a big dent into that ambition.