Google’s battle with broadcasters has stepped up a gear after the company signed a deal with Freesat to launch a full-blown YouTube television channel.
By the end of next month, customers of the BBC and ITV (LSE:ITV.L - news) -backed satellite television operator will be able to flick to the YouTube online video site on the main programming guide, instead of having to link up their television sets to the internet or watch YouTube on a computer.
The deal will help to boost YouTube, which last year launched 60 broadcast-style channels featuring programmes by some of the UK’s most respected production companies, including BBC Worldwide and Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One.
Emma Scott, managing director of Freesat, said she was a “firm believer” that broadcast television has a long life ahead of it, but that more and more viewers want to see other types of content on the television screen as well.
Customers of Freesat, which launched in 2008, require a set-top box to access the service but do not have to pay a subscription fee. The company now has more than 3m of the devices in 1.7m UK households.
