Now Showing: Star Trek on YouTube

Techtree News Staff, Oct 13, 2008 1806 hrs IST

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YouTube has started screening 50-minute episodes of the Star Trek series - 5 of them to be precise on the website heralding a new era in content advertising. The videos comprise of a 15-second pre-roll ad section with mid-roll and post-roll ads joining in as well.

CBS Networks -- the network with rights for the episodes -- have also added a couple of episodes of Beverly Hills, Mac Gyver and The Young and the Restless; all supported by advertising. Google seems to me focusing on YouTube this year to increase revenue. With the exception of litigant Viacom, Google has been trying hard to strengthen its relationship with major studios and it seems to be working - at least from what we can see.

These episodes are differentiated from "standard" YouTube fare with a filmstrip icon, which is used to tag these. There is also a "Theater View" now that will show the ads a bit more prominently. This is apart from the "lights out" mode, which will retain the traditional YouTube interface - albeit with a darker screen and brighter ads. The quality is acceptable and this will certainly be a boon for those who have an iPhone or the likes so they can watch their favorite shows while on the move!

Head over to the CBS playlist to have a look at the videos.

USER COMMENTS

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by T.Arul, tirpur, on Feb 20, 2009 07:28 PM, Report abuse Reply

take care

by Ahmed, Sialkot, on Oct 14, 2008 01:56 PM, Report abuse Reply

I love how these articles use the chance to put in a little ad for CrApple's junky products, showing how i'Tards have weasled their way into the media. Anyone heard of iPaq, Android or HTC? I didn't think so.

by greg, tiburon, on Oct 13, 2008 10:56 PM, Report abuse Reply

Either way these Videos being on this kind of media is another move to a more effeicnt way of entertaiment. Pretty soon we will no long have a need for TV and show will be watched via aveunes such as Youtube and direct Station chanels not only is it cost effective to run an ad while a show is being shown but this eliminates the waste of old TV's, Stereos and other useless electronic trash once you have a sweet computer/ iPhone

by Shellz, Austin, on Oct 13, 2008 09:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

Well this is all fine and dandy except for 1 thing I CAN'T WATCH IT CUZ I'M FROM CANADA!!!!

by PapaMike, Dawson Creek, BC, on Oct 13, 2008 08:57 PM, Report abuse Reply

The videos won't play if you are currently outside the U.S. I guess they want the billions of people not in the U.S. to either pay for what is free elsewhere or download it for free wherever they can find it.

by anon, , on Oct 13, 2008 08:50 PM, Report abuse Reply

Considering the state of the cable television monopoly, internet viewing is the logical antidote (take note, cable providers!!). As it is, people like me who refuse to pay big bucks for channels we don't want, rely on Netflix downloadable movies and internet sites like YouTube for viewing. I don't mind 3 30-second ads if it means I can see the show.

by Emlyn, Providence, RI, on Oct 13, 2008 08:24 PM, Report abuse Reply

Who wants to see more ads? Not anyone conscious.

by Anno, The Isle of Man, on Oct 13, 2008 08:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

Okay, this makes no sense. I actually viewed an entire episode of the old Star Trek at the CBS TV Classics site and once the episode began, it ran all the way through without any ads whatsoever. So why would anyone wish to go to YouTube to view the same episode with ads when they can see the whole episode ad-free at the CBS site instead (unless CBS changed things of course).

by Kirk M, Newport, VT, on Oct 13, 2008 08:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

Sounds great, but is apparently only available in the USA. I'm not sure why, it doesn't violate any Canadian decency laws, but what IS the point of this if you can't watch it in Canada or the UK?

by Edithann, Anycity, Canada, on Oct 13, 2008 07:46 PM, Report abuse Reply

This is to generate buzz about the new Star Trek movie next May. They are totally 'rebooting' the franchise and the upcoming movie looks very interesting to say the least.

by Josh S., Milton, FL, on Oct 13, 2008 07:40 PM, Report abuse Reply

I hate to nit-pick, but whomever wrote this article must not have run it by an editor. I won't point out the grammar errors - you figure it out!

by Jeff H., Castle Rock, CO, on Oct 13, 2008 07:35 PM, Report abuse Reply

I hate to nit-pick as well, but it is not "whomever" its "whoever" . "Whoever wrote this article" "Whomever it was given to write this article" You figure it out!

by George C., Stamford, on Oct 13, 2008 07:38 PM, Report abuse

You can not access these files with the Iphone. YouTube give you an error saying this is not available on a mobile.

by Larry Katz, Gainesville, on Oct 13, 2008 07:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

Has anyone seen cbs's own player? When it works, it encloses shows in a 2-inch black border - useless. No wonder they're trying to use youtube.

by IComeAnon, , on Oct 13, 2008 07:23 PM, Report abuse Reply

CBS is not making the videos available in Canada. Is it a good idea to cut a market that also buys the same products as those advertised?

by Nadine, Montreal, on Oct 13, 2008 07:19 PM, Report abuse Reply

"Google seems to me focusing on YouTube this year..." Don't you mean "Google seems to be focusing on YouTube this year..." You'd thik CBS could afford a Copy Editor.

by Tyrone, Boston, on Oct 13, 2008 07:05 PM, Report abuse Reply

These videos are not available in your country !!!!

by Anonymous, MUM, on Oct 13, 2008 06:32 PM, Report abuse Reply