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YouTube adds thousands of free ad-supported TV show episodes

The shows are currently only available in the United States.

Nicki Chan

Probably that one person singing in the shower at 2am.

Published: 25 March 2022, 3:21 PM

YouTube will stream thousands of free TV shows for the first time, entering the competition alongside over-the-air television and other streaming platforms that offer free TV on demand.

Over 4,000 episodes of TV shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, Andromeda and Heartland are now available on YouTube. Viewers can watch these for free, although advertisements will still run throughout.

YouTube already has over 1,500 free movies from companies like Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures and Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution for ad-supported streaming on its platform, including titles like Legally Blonde and Runaway Bride.

However, this is YouTube’s first time offering full seasons of TV shows, which marks a significant expansion of its existing streaming services.

Up to 100 new TV shows and movies will be added each week, and viewers can access them on “web browsers, mobile devices, and most connected TVs,” YouTube said in a press release on Mar 23.

The free shows are currently only available in the United States, and YouTube has not yet announced any plans to make them available worldwide.