Five agrees VOD deal with CBS's TV.com

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Five agrees VOD deal with CBS's TV.com

Thursday, February 25 2010, 12:57 GMT

By Andrew Laughlin,

Five has agreed a deal with CBS to make its programming available on the US network's online video on-demand service, TV.com.

Under the deal, the VOD site will be able to offer various Five shows, including The Gadget Show and Australian soap Neighbours.

TV.com users, including those in the UK, will be able to catch-up on Five shows via the Demand Five service, along with access to around 250 hours of library content. All programming will be offered free of charge but supported by pre and mid-roll advertising.

The long-form deal signals TV.com as a serious contender in the increasingly competitive UK online VOD market, which includes YouTube, BlinkBox and the recently launched SeeSaw.

CBS hopes that the site will eventually develop an active community function where fans can discuss TV shows and pass on recommendations.

Five already has content deals in place with Google-owned YouTube and SeeSaw, along with its own VOD site.

"Our partnership with TV.com is a further example of Five's strategy to expand and grow the reach of its content beyond the small screen to premium secure digital platforms," said Five's head of digital media Jonathan Lewis.

CBS Interactive UK managing director Jill Orr added: "With the addition of Five's content, TV.com continues its mission to be a place for TV entertainment in the UK."

Last week, Five hired Red Bee Media to manage its VOD and digital content distribution business going forward.