YouTube has secured a deal with channel four to stream to broadcaster’s programming in full length for free. The deal could pave way for a similar deal under negotiation between the video sharing site and ITV. Set to launch in the comong months, the partnership will run for an initial term of at least three […]
YouTube has secured a deal with channel four to stream to broadcaster’s programming in full length for free. The deal could pave way for a similar deal under negotiation between the video sharing site and ITV. Set to launch in the comong months, the partnership will run for an initial term of at least three years and the two parties will share advertising revenues on an agreed basis.
The agreement will let C4 sell ads around some non-C4 content on YouTube for the first time, expanding the amount of inventory available to its sales team. The deal marks the first time that a broadcaster has made a comprehensive catch-up schedule available on YouTube, providing C4 with additional advertising inventory and reach.
16/10/2009
The deal marks the first time that a broadcaster has made a comprehensive catch-up schedule available on YouTube, providing C4 with additional advertising inventory and reach.
C4 will make its 4oD video-on-demand catch-up service available via YouTube shortly after TV transmission. YouTube users will also be able to access around 3,000 hours of full-length programming from the C4 archive at any given time.
C4 CEO Andy Duncan said: “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. This strategic partnership is another important milestone for us.”
All programmes will be available only in the UK. Financial terms are not being disclosed.
Similar negotiations taking place between ITV with both YouTube and Hulu, with executive chairman Michael Grade hinting yesterday that the company was indeed close to a deal with one or the other.
Nikesh Arora, president of global sales operations and business development for YouTube’s parent company Google, said: “Over the past few years, fans have had access to increasing amounts of professional programming online as TV companies experiment with new ways of distributing their content.
“This significant new agreement brings C4’s great full-length content to the YouTube community, helping C4 to grow its online revenues and to continue to invest in the creation of high-quality original content.”
