YouTube Launches Full-Length TV Episodes in UK
In a move to tap into the increasing online demand for full-length television programmes, YouTube has recently launched a new Shows section which will broadcast TV episodes from 60 providers, including Channel 4 and ITN News
Broadcasters such as Channel 4 are hoping that posting content on YouTube will bring in new advertising revenues. All programmes on the Shows section will be available free of charge and, where the content owner has enabled it, they will carry advertising. Channel 4's shows will feature advertisers including Virgin Media, Universal, Orange, Samsung and Pepsi.
At launch, YouTube is posting around 5,000 videos, of which almost 4,000 are full-length programmes. They expect to significantly increase this in the coming months - the full range of Channel 4 shows will be available in early 2010 for example.
Patrick Walker, YouTube's Video Partnerships Director, said the launch would bring more big-brand programmes to viewers on top of the site's home-made clips.
Google, YouTube's parent company, has been working hard to convince the rights holders of music, film and TV shows to make advertising revenue from their content rather than remove it from the video-sharing site for breach of copyright.