YouTube to post full-length feature films from MGM Studios

by Dan Leahul, Brand Republic 10-Nov-08, 09:45

LONDON - Video sharing site YouTube will show full-length films and television programmes from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the studio behind the James Bond series, in a bid to increase advertising revenue.

MGM Studios will kick off the deal by posting episodes of the original 'American Gladiators' filmed in the 1990s. YouTube will also host full-length action films such as 'Bulletproof Monk' and 'The Magnificent Seven' and clips from movies such as 'Legally Blonde'.

The videos will be free to watch, with ads running alongside.

Many TV networks have dedicated channels on YouTube, but their content generally runs for 10 minutes or less.

The partnership is similar to that signed with CBS last month which lets YouTube users watch full-length episodes of old series, such 'Star Trek' and 'Beverly Hills 90210'.

The MGM agreement will counter some of YouTube's market loss to video sharing site Hulu, which is owned by News Corp and NBC Universal, and airs new full-length programmes from Fox, NBC and CBS free of charge.