Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 12 October 2008 17:05
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
US YouTube users have it sweet – they can start watching full-length eps now. International users can see the list of shows linked below, but if you try to click on any of them, you get a pink strip at the top of the screen telling you “This video is not available in your country”. Ugh.
US YouTube users can be beamed up with Scotty (
Star Trek, of course), learn how to devise a world-saving weapon using only gum and paperclips (surely you’ve realised this is
MacGyver), and to get your grub on at "The Peach Pit" (which is ye olde original Beverly Hills,
90210).
YouTube is also promising to give us (which really means U.S.) “giving you full-length episodes of these shows and many others.”
The blog entry boasts the shows will be available to watch in YouTube’s new “Theater View style” which was rolled out in the last few days.
YouTube says the Theatre View “provides optimal experience for watching full-length programming on your computer”.
YouTube also wants “to ensure that our partners have more options when it comes to advertising on their full-length TV shows.”
This means we “may” see “in-stream video ads (including pre-, mid- and post-rolls) embedded in some of these episodes; this advertising format will only appear on premium content where you are most comfortable seeing such ads.”
Full length eps are being labelled with a “Film Strip Symbol”, although if you’re not in the US, don’t expect to see this symbol anytime soon.
What have YouTube commenters said in reaction? Please read on to page 3.
