A new Channel 4 and YouTube partnership will bring 1,000 hours of content from some of the channel’s most popular shows to YouTube, where viewers will be able to watch them for free.
Some of the hit shows included in this new deal are Location, Location, Location, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, SAS: Who Dares Wins and more.
The shows will be available on YouTube in the UK and Ireland, with selected programmes being made available to watch on YouTube 30 days after their debut on All 4.
The shows will not be available for YouTube viewers in the US (unless one uses a VPN), where content is being sold to various 3rd party streamers and channels directly.
Additionally, thanks to the partnership Channel 4 will be able to sell its own ads for its shows on YouTube, creating another revenue stream.
Channel 4 has been in the news recently mainly due to the government’s plan to sell it to private hands – therefore new revenue models may help change the current process.
The new partnership is part of Channel 4’s plans to boost its transition to a digital-first broadcaster for young audiences, with YouTube being used by 98% of online 18-34-year-olds each month.
Of course, Channel 4’s programmes are already available for free in the UK – both on the linear channel (which is free to watch on Freeview and Freesat), and on All 4, the channel’s streaming service/app.
All 4 is available on most of the streaming devices sold in the UK, including the Amazon Fire TV sticks, Roku, Smart TVs and Freeview Play boxes.
But with so many young people going on YouTube by default when they want to watch stuff – being there might help Channel 4 get their shows in front of additional eyeballs.
And, while the shows will have adverts on YouTube – YouTube Premium subscribers will be able to watch them without adverts.
Some of the hit shows to be published by Channel 4 on YouTube include:
- 8 Out Of 10 Cats
- SAS: Who Dares Wins
- Nikki Grahame: Who Is She?
- Unapologetic
- Location, Location, Location
- Gemma Collins: Self-Harm and Me
- Davina McCall’s Language of Love
- Kathy Burke: Money Talks
- The Dog House
- Devon & Cornwall
In total, 1,000 hours of full Channel 4 and E4 episodes from new and popular series will become available to watch across Channel 4’s YouTube network by the end of 2022 – with content starting to roll out from May.
Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4 said:
“Innovative strategic partnerships are Channel 4’s speciality, and this new relationship with YouTube is another which will ensure we continue to keep growing our reach with young audiences and build on our unrivalled digital success.
“Together with YouTube we have created a powerful consumer channel full of our brilliant Channel 4 content. This will engage even more viewers through the enhanced reach and digital scale of YouTube, combined with the dynamism of the Channel 4 brand.”