(8 January 2008 7:25 pm)

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television has announced the debut of the first of several YouTube Brand Channels at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show. The first of the ad-supported Channels will be The Minisode Network (TMN).

"Connecting our huge array of high-quality content to the incredible audience of YouTube, brings our channels to the largest online video audience in the world and builds their brands online," said Sony Pictures Television senior executive vice president Sean Carey.

With its launch on YouTube, TMN, which delivers approximately five-minute versions of popular television shows, will grow from 18 to 21 series with the addition of Married, With Children, Newsradio and a new animation block.

Additionally, TMN has begun acquiring programs from other companies, including a recent deal with World Events Productions, distributors of Voltron and Saber Rider.

"This is a first step in a deeper relationship with Sony Pictures Television to bring our community many of their favorite programs," said Jordan Hoffner, head of content partnerships at YouTube.

"We are excited tooffer users on YouTube The Minisode Network, which presents a new format of programming to active fan bases and potentially exposes a new audience to these shows."

Other Sony Pictures Television channels available in the future at YouTube are expected to include original content from a variety of genres, stated an official release.