YouTube Inks Deal With Local TV Giant

YouTube has signed an agreement with Hearst-Argyle Television to air content from its local stations on dedicated channels.

Following their breakthrough agreement with EMI, YouTube has signed a deal with Hearst-Argyle Television.Under the pact, Hearst-Argyle stations will receive a licensing fee whenever content from member stations is viewed on YouTube. It represents the first such deal involving local TV stations, andshows the way YouTube is being viewed by the media.   Hearst-Argyle is a major player in the local television market, owing 29 stations across the U.S., and reaching almost 20% of Americanhouseholds. Its stations are associated with all three of the major networks. Company stations from Boston, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and elsewhere will begin posting content on YouTube to dedicatedchannels on YouTube.   “We’d been looking for a way to expand our footprint online and rapidly expand into new markets,” said Terry Mackin of Hearst-Argyle. “With this deal,we’re really trying to say this station group is not your father’s Oldsmobile.”   YouTube and Hearst-Argyle will split revenue from the content, but the percentages haven’t beendisclosed, and the two companies have yet to decide when ads will be aired within the content.   It’s a major step as an old media force signs up to new media, and a sign that YouTube iseager to play ball with established media companies to increase its content.