YouTube Scores Content Deal With CNN And TNT

Today YouTube said that is has signed a deal with Time Warner that will allow it to post content from a number of Time Warner properties, including CNN, the Cartoon Network and TNT. Professional content has a much better chance of bringing in advertising dollars for YouTube, which is owned by Google.YouTube needs to make more money. Google knows this. That's what a deal such as this is important for the video-sharing site. Sure, gazillions of videos are posted on YouTube, but not many companies are going to pay to advertise over a teen's skateboarding video. Hence the need for professional content.

Being able to post clips from a select number of Warner properties will certainly help YouTube. It's a shame, however, that the content will be limited to snippets. If you were expecting full episodes of Gossip Girl, prepared to be disappointed. Time Warner doesn't want to kneecap its TV properties.

Even so, all the executives of said companies gave each other high-fives in excitement about the deal.

Jordan Hoffner, director of partnerships at YouTube, told the New York Times, "Long form is a great business. We are very happy that they are starting focused on our core business. If you look at Time Warner's portfolio, it lends itself well to short-form clips. The important thing is to get them on the platform."

This deal probably isn't going to do much to make up for those who visit Hulu.com to watch full-length TV shows and movies, but any chance YouTube has to make some cold hard cash is one that Google needs to take.

According to Google execs, YouTube is expected to turn a profit at some point, though they wouldn't say exactly when.