Novice Web Developer Q: Videos on Site

[zoomiest]

I am putting a site, and I have a handful of YouTube videos that I want to include.

I would like some tips on how to present them!

I want to maintain control over the videos, so I can download them, and convert them to another format with RealPlayer.

I was was going to build a two-pane frame, so I could click a link on the left, and the video would load on the right, to keep the viewers on the website on not send them off to YouTube.

Questions:
Which format would you recommend I convert the videos. Is it tough to stream my own videos?
Is there another popular lay out to present a lot of videos?

[Eye for Video]

Well if the videos are YouTube videos, you've already lost control of them, since as soon as anyone downloads and views them, there is a copy of that video in the users Temp Internet Files folder. From there anyone can copy and save the file.
So I'm not really sure why you would want to go thru the trouble to convert to any other file format, especially since the Flash .flv format is by far the most widely used and cross browser friendly format.
If you stick with the Flash .flv, get a Flash player with a playlist to show thumbs or titles of the videos. Google for more info, there are several free ones out there and lots of not free ones. Here's my own custom player with playlist that I use:
http://www.cidigitalmedia.com/video.html
As far as streaming the videos, true streaming is really expensive. While it does make it harder to copy the videos, it still does not prevent it. Since the videos are already available on YouTube, the cost of true streaming hardly seems worth it. A better choice would be to progressively download the files, just like YouTube does. Any good Web hosting service will include that capability in their hosting package, at very little cost. All that's required then is to upload your videos and correctly code your Web page to display that Flash player (with playlist). Really pretty easy.
Best wishes on your project,
Eye for Video
www.cidigitalmedia.com

[zoomiest]

Eye for Video...

Thanks for the insight. That custom player that you had is... exactly the layout I am hoping to accomplish... A player with a playlist that is clickable, and controlled in a window...

So, there are lots of those? Is there a special name I should google for? (just web-based video player).

I was starting to think that - I should leave everything on YouTube - and you have nailed that down. Thanks.

Do you recommend any of those free (yet appealing, and easily maintained) players?

[Eye for Video]

You know, since I'm a Flash developer, I really haven't tried these but here are a couple of the most popular.
http://flowplayer.org/
and
http://www.longtailvideo.com/players/jw-flv-player/
You may have to dig around on the site to find a version with a playlist. Or Google for "Flash video player with playlist".
Best wishes,
EfV