Channel 4 have seemingly just realised the huge potential of online content for the station. Anyone who used 4oD last year will know how irritating it was and how it just didn’t work properly. However, now it’s cooking up a storm and becoming every bit as useful as the BBC iPlayer. The latest news from Camp Channel 4 is even more exciting and could see them leap-frogging Auntie. Basically, Channel 4 is going to give us their entire back catalogue, completely free of charge as they become the first UK broadcaster to put all their old shows online. How great is that? From July, roughly 10,000 programmes from the archives will be available to view! So, this means we can all watch Queer As Folk, Vic Reeves Big Night Out, The Adam and Joe Show, Brasseye, Teachers and more! Not only that, we’ll be able to see the best episodes of Brookside (The Lesbian One, The Patio One).

Of course, not every programme ever aired on Channel 4 that will be available. Basically, the content from America like Friends won’t be online thanks to legal issues and rights. That doesn’t matter too much as Friends is pretty much on constant loop on E4 anyway. Channel 4 News archives won’t be available either, due to legal implications with ITN, but let’s be honest, we don’t want to sit around watching old news shows when there’s loads of ace comedy on offer.

Jon Gisby, the director of future media and technology at Channel 4, said: “We were the first broadcaster to launch a comprehensive video-on-demand service in 2006, and since that time 4oD has become one of the UK’s most popular VOD brands. We are extremely proud of the improved service and think the combination of fantastic content that’s easy to find and view will prove compelling for all users.”

This is very exciting indeed, and I can’t wait to get stuck in and remind myself of some shows long lost in my memory!

[viaThrong]