YouTube has launched a new TV shows section for UK users due to the huge demand for full-length TV programmes online.

YouTube is initially posting around 5,000 videos, of which almost 4,000 are full-length programmes, from more than 60 partners.

YouTube said it “expects this to significantly increase in the coming months” and a full range of Channel 4 shows will be available in early 2010.

For established broadcasters, including Channel 4, partnering with YouTube is a response to the trend of both viewers and advertisers leaving television channels for the internet. Channel 4 is hoping that posting content on YouTube can bring in new advertising revenues.

All programmes on the shows section will be available free of charge and, where the content owner has enabled it, they will carry advertising. Channel 4′s shows will feature advertisers including Virgin Media, Universal, Orange, Samsung and Pepsi. By putting advertising with clips, YouTube makes money from revenue sharing deals with the rights holders.

That trend is bringing YouTube a badly needed increase in revenues. Three years after Google bought the video sharing site for $1.65bn, it has yet to turn a profit and there are concerns the division is devouring the internet group’s cash reserves.

http://www.youtube.com/shows

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