Sony puts TV clips on YouTube channels
By Ned Randolph -- Video Business, 1/7/2008
JAN. 7 | Sony Pictures Television will offer five-minute videos from such popular TV shows as Married With Children, News Radio and The Jeffersons on several ad-supported channels on YouTube.
The first channel, available today, is called "The Minisode Network" and has on-demand videos from various TV shows owned by Sony. The studio will operate and provide all the content for the channels and has begun acquiring programs from other companies, including a recent deal with World Events Productions, distributors of Voltron and Saber Rider.
Future Sony channels available on YouTube are expected to include original content from a variety of genres.
"Connecting our huge array of high-quality content to the incredible audience of YouTube brings our channels to the largest online video audience in the world and builds their brands online," said Sean Carey, senior executive VP of Sony Pictures Television.
"This is a first step in a deeper relationship with Sony Pictures Television to bring our community many of their favorite programs," said Jordan Hoffner, head of content partnerships at YouTube. "We are excited to offer users on YouTube The Minisode Network, which presents a new format of programming to active fan bases and potentially exposes a new audience to these shows."