It's a tough call, as both sides make compelling arguments. TDS/TCR and YouTube both helped each other during YouTube’s initial growth period. But I can see why Viacom would want to keep traffic directed at the CC site.

Perhaps a fair compromise would be for CC to have its own channel on YT. It could provide its own clips like its corporate cousin, CBS, which provides multiple Letterman clips. They could even take it a step further by embedding ads into each clip.

I understand (but don't agree with) Viacom's policy towards YouTube.

I think from the mentions I've seen on their shows that Stewart and Colbert don't agree with the policy, mock it openly but tow the company line. But thats akin to the fun the Simpsons has at Fox's expense.

That being said, I do think it's *somewhat* unfair that TDS and TCR often use YouTube as both the butt of their jokes and sometimes a mechanism that enables them.

TDS been on in the UK for less than two years. Colbert not at all. You Tube was instrumental in be becoming a huge fan of both shows (and of disliking Posh Spice, but I digress). Also MotherLoad never used to work on my computer. Also it's really hard to search MotherLoad. I could go on. So I will! MotherLoad is selective and only goes back a couple of years. Without YouTube I might not have become such a massive fan and I certainly would not be buying iTunes episodes of Colbert and putting money into Viavom's oops Viacom's pockets. Viacom has benefited enormously from YouTube. The swines.

But are the advertisements embedded in the videos on Comedy Central's website? Not always, if at all. Why is this important? Because the CC site allows you to post video on other sites, away from ComedyCentral.com.

Will the depositions show up on YouTube? And if so, will Viacom sue to get them taken down?

Michael - both the daily show and the colbert report show reruns as well as re-airing the show at an earlier time the following evening...at least the comedy central i receive does.

you can watch some of there shows on there websites

So they are losing out on advertising revenue if people decide to watch something on youtube instead of one of there websites

I'd love the Google lawyers to make these guys explain how posting Daily Show clips on Youtube harms then in ANY way. There are no reruns, no complete DVD releases, etc., of the show, so if there is a good segment, it seems to me your only option to see it is Youtube... and all the clips get removed from Youtube. It was free advertising for them and they killed it.