YouTube signs film deal with MGM Studios

YouTube is to show free films and television programmes from Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

The videos will be free to watch, with ads running alongside them. The deal will start with episodes of the ’90s version of American Gladiators and be followed by full-length action films such as Bulletproof Monk and The Magnificent Seven.

CBS recently signed a deal with the video sharing website which lets users watch episodes of series such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Star Trek.

At the end of October, Google revealed that it would be launching a new agency incentive programme to push advertising on YouTube (see Google To Launch Agency Incentives To Drive Ads On YouTube).

Google is currently approaching agencies with plans to drive online video growth through incentives and funding for research.

Also towards the end of last month, it was revealed that Project Kangaroo – the forthcoming Video-on-Demand service from BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV – would be launched with an ad-funded business model making each partner responsible for selling advertising around their own content on the website (see Kangaroo Unveils Plans For Ad-Funded Model).

YouTube: www.youtube.com