Only kidding, Google didn’t buy the planet, but after the markets closed today they did announce the acquistion of YouTube for a cool $1.65 billion. In the brave new world of Internet Video that’s amost the same thing. There’s a good discussion of this deal on PaidContent.org who have also compiled this list of posts about Google and YouTube leading up to the merger:

About YouTube:
– Google Nears Deal With YouTube; Could Be Announced Today: Reports
– Google-YouTube: Closed Process?
– Speculative Report: Google In Talks With YouTube; Google Beds New Projects
– YouTube Pins Profitability On Creative Advertising
– Warner Music, YouTube In Ad Share Agreement; Template For Future Deals
– UMG CEO: Time To Deal With Infringers Like YouTube, MySpace
– YouTube: Home Page Video Ads, Sponsored Channels
– CEO: YouTube Is Generating “Significant Revenues”
– YouTube Sued Over News Video Upload; Site’s Balancing Act
– YouTube: Let The Backlash Begin
– Marketers Latch On To YouTube, Other Viral Video Sites
– YouTube Ties Up Wth MTV; First Formal Media Company Agreement
– YouTube Gets $8 Million Funding
– Networks Grapple With YouTube; CBS’s Turn
– NBC’s C&D To YouTube For SNL Video Clips; YouTube Complies
– YouTube Gets $3.5 Million Funding

About Google:
– Google’s Approach To (Some) Content Matures; Google Video Gets Home-Page Boost
– Viacom, Google To Test MTVN Clips with AdSense; MTVN Downloads For Sale
– Google Video Rolls Out Country-Specific Sites in Europe
– Google Starts New Video Trial
– @ NATPE 2006: Google Video: Managing Expectations
– CES: Google Launches Premium Video Store; CBS, NBA, Charlie Rose, ITN Content For Sale