UK TV network Channel Five Has struck a deal with YouTube to put all of its full length tv content onto the video website. Channel Five has joined fellow network Channel 4 who have a similar deal already in place.

The deal will allow tv content to be streamed from Youtube shortly after airing. The deal includes not only homegrown content but also shows brought in from the  US and Australia.

Five has followed rival Channel 4 as the only broadcasters around the world to put its catch up tv on YouTube in this way, with a potential audience of 20 million viewers.

This “provides the broadcaster with additional advertising inventory and reach, tapping into growing consumer demand to watch Five’s programming online,” says Five.

Around 250 hours of tv content will be available to Youtube in the three year deal. Five said it will continue discussions with US 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. ”

The video on demand arm of Channel Five has been losing money since launch, so the deal will be good for them. And Youtube are swiftly, in the UK at least becoming the catch up tv destination of choice.

See Youtube Shows Section

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