British broadcaster Chanel Five is the latest of the U.K.'s TV networks to announce its putting all of its programming up on video hub YouTube. Five joins Channel 4 -- which in October said it was planning to load its programming on the video platform -- as the only broadcasters globally to put all of their programming online.
Five said shows will be available shortly after transmission, adding that about 250 hours of programs from its archive will be included in the three-year deal. Five said it will continue discussions with U.S. broadcasters on rights for popular imports like CSI and FlashForward.
Channel 4's deal with YouTube allows for 50 hours of streamed catch-up programming, and some 3,000 hours of archived programming.
The move gives Five access to more than 20 million unique YouTube users in the United Kingdom. The programming will only be available in the U.K., and will be ad supported, and thus free to viewers.
"Five will have a branded presence on YouTube and its sales team will be able to sell both display and video advertising around the content available on the site," Five said in a statement. The broadcaster plans to use pre-roll, overlays, and post-roll advertisements online.
"The past few weeks have been exciting for all of us who love British TV, and we're delighted that our users can now find even more of their favorite programs in YouTube's new Shows section," Google's Nikesh Arora said. "This landmark partnership with Five places them at the forefront of the new opportunities around full-length content online, and their shows will see increased reach and revenues. "
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