- for free!

Every episode of Father Ted, Brass Eye and Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out is to be put online for free as part of a major new Channel 4 initiative.

The broadcaster is putting almost its entire back catalogue of home-grown shows – totaling around 10,000 programmes – onto its 4oD catchup service from next month.

Smack The Pony, Trigger Happy TV, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Drop The Dead Donkey and Da Ali G show are also included in the scheme, which will allow viewers to watch episodes when they want, without having to buy DVD box sets.

4oD currently offers programmes for free for 30 days after they are broadcast, with episodes of selected old shows available to buy for 99p – but that charge will be scrapped.

The current system is only available on PCs, but the revamp will mean content is also available to Mac and Linux users .

However, rights issues means that imported content such as Friends or Cheers will still not be included on 4oD.

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.

‘The addition of archived content to 4oD on channel4.com means we will be the only UK broadcaster to have all of our content available online. The combination of fantastic content that's easy to find and view will prove a compelling service for all users.’

‘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.’

Published: 8 Jun 2009