Google has signed a deal with UK satellite TV service, Freesat, to offer television channels through the company’s Freetime set-top boxes on YouTube’s platform.
The channels will be available through a new YouTube app via Freesat’s new £279 premium internet-connected set top box which will allow users to watch videos on smartphones.
Freesat is a joint venture between UK ITV broadcasters and the BBC offering nearly 60 channels.
Freesat managing director, Emma Scott, said that the company will now add a customer offering with YouTube.
"They join Freesat at a time of rapid growth for our business and will offer our viewers an exclusive, first view of their latest version – previously unseen on free to air TV in the UK," Scott said.
The new app will be developed on HTML 5 and will be aimed at offering a TV-optimised and fully interactive viewing experience.
YouTube Product marketing manager, Peter Sherman, said that the company is happy to be working with Freesat so that Freesat users can now access YouTube from the platform.
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"Our creator community is developing quality content that will delight and inspire viewers and we’re pleased to be able to bring it to people in new ways," Sherman said.
Boasting more than 800 million viewers per month, YouTube is being offered on internet-connected TV sets through Apple’s set-top box or via a smart TV.
