Time Warner, YouTube ink distribution pact

This was originally posted at ZDNet's Between the Lines.

Time Warner and YouTube said Wednesday that they have signed an online video distribution deal.

Under the pact, YouTube will distribute Time Warner short-form video content, including movie clips, television shows, and news. Time Warner properties--Warner Bros. and Turner Broadcasting System--will program YouTube videos via an embeddable player.

According to a statement, YouTube will get access to CNN news, the Cartoon Network, and shows such as "Gossip Girl." Time Warner video will appear across Google properties. Time Warner can also create separate channels on YouTube and sell ad time. The two parties will split ad revenue.

Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said the YouTube deal was a good way to monetize short-form content.

The deal appears to be a win-win. YouTube gets more professional content and Time Warner is allowed to sell ads and control channels.

Also see: Disney, YouTube forge video distribution pact; YouTube: Uploads don't hurt our bottom line; Google moves to show YouTube has 'a very credible business model'; The cure for YouTube's ills: Charge for uploads.

[YankeePoodle]

Are the programs available internationally, is YouTube following Hulu by staying only in US ?

[monkeyfun14]

"Time Warner can also create separate channels on YouTube and sell ad time. The two parties will split ad revenue. "


How does that work if the AD revenue for YouTube is hardly keeping it afloat as it is?

[Police_States_of_America]

if most videos ran ads, youtube would be a money machine for google. obviously the more videos with ads the closer google is getting to making a profit. even if/because youtube is costing google massive fees, they are trying to make money off it or at least find a way not to lose as much money.

[GreenScreenCinema]

CNET, geez, I wish you didn't simply report every press release that comes across your desk. YouTube will host "movie clips"? Do you know what a "movie clip" is? It's a trailer. How in the world is it newsworthy that "trailers will appear on YouTube"? The lead paragraph in the YouTube press release focused on Turner content. I think what they have here is basically a Turner content deal.

[eriky4]

This is pointless, who wants to watch clips of a tv show/movie? people dont want that crap. people want full tv shows/movies!

[Internet-Lawyer]

I think this is a great development. As an <a href="http://www.web20lawyer.com">Internet Lawyer</a> who works on many such licensing and distribution agreements, i am always happy to see agreements to distribute more content digitally. Next, i'd like to see better quality and more choice in mobile distribution.