 |
       |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
YouTube UK hosts full-length BBC, HBO shows YouTube has unveiled a 'Shows' section for its UK site, housing content from BBC Worldwide, HBO Sports, ITN, Al Jazeera and Turner Broadcasting, as well as the Channel 4 catalogue. The move follows a similar initiative for YouTube in the US earlier this year, which saw the likes of Sony, Lionsgate, the BBC and Endemol making full-length clips available. However, the UK Shows section will feature "significantly more content" at launch than the US offering did, according to a YouTube spokesman. In addition to newly uploaded clips, a number of full-length clips that were previously online stateside but geo-blocked to prevent UK viewership – such as HBO Sports episodes – have had their blocking removed. At launch, the Shows section includes almost 5,000 videos, almost 4,000 of which are full-length programmes, from more than 60 partners, totalling more than 3,000 hours. However, YouTube said it "expects this to significantly increase in the coming months." The C4 catalogue, uploaded following the previously announced landmark partnership between the two companies, represents a significant number of those hours online. Other full-length programmes available through the Shows section include Dead Ringers, Day of the Triffids and This Is Dom Joly from BBC Worldwide; Adult Swim from Turner Broadcasting; ITN News shows from ITN; Guinness World Records and He-Man from Classic Media; Baywatch and Freak from FremantleMedia; World Rally Championship from prodco North One; and The Listening Post and The Fabulous Picture Show from Al Jazeera. The most notable change is the arrival of full-length BBC clips on YouTube UK. Both YouTube and US video site Hulu have been courting UK broadcasters in a bid to be first out of the blocks with full-length titles. The news comes as speculation continues to mount that Hulu is set to launch a UK offering in the near future. The NBC-News Corp-Disney joint venture is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with terrestrial network ITV to secure the broadcaster's full-length titles, such as Coronation Street. However, Scottish ITV franchise holder STV Group earlier this week filed a £12m (US$20m) new media rights lawsuit against ITV, which could skewer a potential deal. All of the programmes on YouTube UK Shows will be available free and, where the content owner has enabled it, will be supported by advertising. Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships, said: "The Shows section of the site will make it easier for users to discover videos from the biggest names in British broadcasting, and help our content partners reach new audiences and generate new revenues." Adam Benzine 19 Nov 2009 © C21 Media 2009 
C21 Home | FutureMedia Home | Printer Friendly | Email a Friend |
|
|
|
|
|
|
