p2pnet news view P2P:- Channel 4, owned and operated by the Channel Four Television Corporation, will be the first UK broadcaster to offer its back catalogue online completely free of charge.

“From July, more than 4,000 hours of the channel’s archived content – about 10,000 programme titles – will be added to the 4oD catchup service,” says The Guardian, going on:

“There will be a selection of episodes of the now defunct soap Brookside, featuring what it calls its ‘most important storylines’, including the infamous body under the patio and the first lesbian kiss to be shown before the 9pm watershed. Six million viewers tuned in to see Anna Friel’s character, Beth Jordache, lock lips with Margaret Clemence, played by Nicola Stephenson, for eight seconds in 1993.”

Catchup currently offers viewers programmes for 30 days after they broadcast, ands the move, “could put pressure on the BBC, which offers programmes via its iPlayer service for only seven days after they air,” says the story.

But not all of 4’s content will be available online, “because of rights or legal issues,” says The Guardian, adding:

“US shows such as Friends will not be included, nor will Channel 4 News, because some bought-in news clips form part of a rights agreement which only allows the broadcaster to show them up to midnight on the day of transmission.”

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The Guardian – Channel 4 to put back catalogue online for free, June 7, 2009