Channel 4 to offer back catalogue for free

UK broadcaster Channel 4 is to make its entire back catalogue of programming available online for free.

Over 4,000 hours of content from 10,000 titles will be added to 4oD, the broadcaster’s online on-demand service. Titles including Brookside, Brass Eye and Father Ted will be available from July on PC, Mac and Linux operating systems on a streamed basis. Some content, including Friends and Channel 4 News, will not be made available online because of rights issues.

According to The Guardian, Channel 4 has seen an 111% month-on-month increase in viewing on the 4oD service since it was revamped in April.