Following in the footsteps of Channel 4, the UK commercial broadcaster Five has signed an agreement with YouTube to show videos that will go live ‘shortly’ after being aired. The offer will include not only programmes such as The Gadget Show and Hotel Inspector, but also famed Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home and Away.
Like Channel 4, Five is to put its full content on YouTube, and potentially reach a UK YouTube audience in excess of 20 million unique users, who can access these for free as they are supported by advertising. The programmes will only be available in the UK.
“Five will have a branded presence on YouTube and its sales team will be able to sell both display and video advertising (typically pre-roll and mid-roll advertisements and sponsorship bumpers) around the content available on the site,” according to the broadcaster.
The news follows a blog report earlier today about talks that YouTube are seemingly holding with US studios and networks to offer full-length video against payments (see Broadband TV News here)
