According to a report from News Ltd, the popular Aussie soap Neighbours is to be made available on the YouTube social networking website.

And for those that think this is an example of Australian networks becoming cutting edge all of a sudden, think again, as it seems the move was prompted about the Fremantle Media’s “significant concern over the large number of YouTube users from around the world uploading Neighbours onto the internet”, according to statements given to the media”.

The majority of these YouTube uploaders were apparently from the UK and Ireland, the report noted.

It is well-known that countless episodes of other popular Australian soap operas like Home and Away have also been uploaded onto the video-sharing website just hours after they screen on TV, so the move by the network was a reactive rather than a proactive one.

Regardless, it is a good sign when Australian TV executives actually acknowledge the pervasive influence of the Net- voluntarily or otherwise.