By Rob Waugh PUBLISHED: 09:33 EST, 19 March 2012 | UPDATED: 07:18 EST, 20 March 2012 YouTube is successfully transforming into a full-blown web TV service - site users are staying 60 per cent longer than they did a year ago. The average time spent watching video on Google video sites is now 418.2 minutes per user, per month, according to Comscore data. The shift is credited to YouTube's recent relaunch, which added a focus on TV-like 'Channels' and longer, professionally made shows. Google staff said that subscriptions to the site's 'Channels' have gone up 50 per cent since the 'new look' launched in December.
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Site users now stay for 418 minutes per month
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Increase of 60% on last year, say Comscore figures
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Comes in wake of relaunch to become more TV-like
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Subscriptions to Channels have risen 50%
channels, rather than simply search for video using @placeholder search.