A deal with UK television station Channel 4 will see YouTube playing the channel’s own programmes, including the popular Peep Show and Skins TV series.
In one of the first deals of its kind, the Google-owned YouTube will be acting as a catch-up service for Channel 4, like its own 4oD service, where content goes online for viewing shortly after the television broadcast.
While nothing has been released on the money involved in the YouTube/Channel 4 deal, it is known it will last for at least three years with advertising revenue split evenly between both companies.
The service, like 4oD, will only be available to UK residents and will have archive material from shows including ‘Brass Eye’, ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares’ and ‘Teachers’, but no bought in shows from the US.
“Channel 4 was the first broadcaster anywhere in the world to make all its commissioned content available online and we’ve consistently pioneered in this field,” said Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan.
“This strategic partnership is another important milestone for us and we’re delighted to be combining the power of the ‘4’ brand and the appeal of our content with YouTube’s unrivalled reach and reputation online.”
By Marie Boran, via Gadgetrepublic.com
