YouTube to Introduce Complimentary Streaming Television

Despite its primary focus on user-generated content, YouTube has been striving to enter the streaming domain for several years now. It has been providing both free and paid on-demand movies and original content. The most recent initiative aims to enhance competition with emerging streaming platforms such as Tubi, Pluto, among others.

This week, YouTube has revealed that audiences can access around 4,000 episodes of classic TV shows for free. These shows can be streamed on the regular YouTube website or through one of YouTube’s mobile or streaming player applications. These streams are supported by advertisements and include a collection of shows like Hell’s Kitchen, Andromeda, Heartland, and more. YouTube plans to add around 100 new shows weekly in the near future. This service will run in parallel with YouTube’s existing free ad-supported movies, which will also see regular additions.

YouTube Enters “Free TV” Streaming Wars, Adds Access To Nearly 4,000 Free Classic TV Episodes https://t.co/0iWj51TLL3 pic.twitter.com/0QmxuHs8Co

— Forbes Tech (@ForbesTech) March 25, 2022

Similar to Tubi and Pluto, YouTube offers a range of vintage TV shows for free viewing, supported by ads or otherwise. However, the convenience of using YouTube for this purpose in conjunction with its standard features may attract users. While not explicitly stated by YouTube, analysts speculate that this move is aimed at Roku, considering the recent tensions between Google and the platform.