(Associated Press via NewsEdge) BBC began showing excerpts from its news and entertainment programs on the YouTube video-sharing Web site, becoming the first international broadcaster to ink a major deal with the Google-owned portal.
In an agreement that analysts described as a key step for both the BBC and YouTube, the British broadcaster is offering three branded channels on the site, including one showing up to 30 news clips a day.
The deal gives the BBC access to millions more viewers and gives YouTube the credibility of the venerable British broadcaster.
'It's an easy win-win,' said Chris Lake, an editor at E-consultancy, an Internet marketing firm.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said the broadcaster hopes to drive extra traffic to its own Web site and bring in commercial revenue to supplement the license fee levied on British taxpayers.
Datamonitor analyst Chris Khouri said that the move showed the BBC was becoming 'a more commercially focused organization.' Lake added that the deal would provide the BBC with crucial information about viewer habits that it could then use on its own Web site. The BBC has already announced plans to set up its own video player on a new international portal.
One of the new YouTube channels, 'BBC Worldwide,' will show clips from hit BBC programs including motor show 'Top Gear,' spy drama 'Spooks' and nature documentaries presented by David Attenborough.
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