BOSTON -- Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., the parent company of WCVB-TV, announced Monday an agreement to distribute select WCVB television content with Google and YouTube.

WCVB is among five local Hearst-Argyle television stations in four local markets, Boston, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, that will begin posting local video content to dedicated channels on YouTube.

“This innovative deal with Google and YouTube fits perfectly within our overall digital strategy of distributing our content on all three screens -- the TV, the PC and the mobile phone,” said Terry Mackin, executive vice president of Hearst-Argyle Television.

“We have invested significant resources in our growing digital media efforts. With Google and YouTube, we can now better engage users and advertisers with our award-winning local video content and with new user-generated content while further broadening our reach beyond the boundaries of our media markets," Mackin said.

"We're constantly looking at innovative ways to not only bring the YouTube community the best content out there, but also to find ways to bring them the most relevant programming,” said Jordan Hoffner, head of premium content partnerships for YouTube.

“Local creates relevance and this agreement will ultimately deliver Hearst-Argyle’s programming to an even broader audience looking for local content. We look forward to continue working with the Hearst-Argyle team as we launch new products and services on the local level," Hoffner said.

WCVB’s YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/wcvbtv) will be populated with news, weather, and entertainment videos as well as with original, local television programming such as “Chronicle,” one of New England’s most honored television programs.

YouTube will also serve as a platform to support Hearst-Argyle’s new digital video initiatives including high school football, basketball and local amateur entertainment.