PBS To Expand YouTube Channel Offerings

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205901245

PBS To Expand YouTube Channel Offerings

Consumer demand led to the decision to add more exclusive online-only content and add footage from television shows, the broadcaster said.

By K.C. Jones
InformationWeek
January 18, 2008 01:56 PM

PBS will expand offerings on its YouTube channel.

PBS announced this week that it will add video, including previews from its award-winning series and specials, as well as exclusive online features, and program excerpts to its YouTube channel.

The broadcaster currently offers more than 700 videos to its 3,000 YouTube channel subscribers and said that consumer demand led to the decision to add more content. PBS said that Bill Moyers Journal featuring interviews with two candidates seeking party nominations for the presidential election (Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich) drew more than 11,000 views since they were posted on the PBS YouTube channel two weeks ago.

The expanded offerings will help broadcasters reach a global audience and it will assist broadcasters in fulfilling their mission of spreading awareness, unlocking mysteries, and exposing truths, PBS said.

"Our channel on YouTube has enabled us to have a meaningful dialogue with viewers," John Boland, PBS chief content officer, said in a news announcement. 'It's critical that we engage as many people as possible with our programming. Posting PBS content on YouTube has helped us drive viewers back to watch the entire programs on our local stations' broadcast, and has helped increase usage of these programs' companion Web sites on pbs.org."

Jordan Hoffner, head of premium content partnerships for YouTube, said his Web site's users embrace PBS' "grassroots content," and YouTube allows PBS viewers to watch programs anytime, anywhere.

"YouTube is a platform for promotional as well as educational videos, and we are honored to partner with PBS as they bring their unique video programming to our 21st century community," he said.

PBS will have an animated "Car Talk" series this summer featuring those wacky brothers Click and Clack. Quality viewing indeed.