After months of trying to steer online video fans to iTunes and its own site for clips of its shows, NBC announced yesterday it is going to partner with YouTube, the consumer-powered online video site that largely propelled the "Lazy Sunday" rap to a cultural phenomenon.

Via InformationWeek:

Under the agreement, the TV network would create an official NBC channel on YouTube that would include a "Fall Preview" area. In addition, the channel would be used to promote other programming, such as "Saturday Night Live," "The Office," and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The partners also agreed to market each other's products.

The partnership is both an admission by a major network of YouTube's power and a strategic move by NBC to discourage copyright violations, a YouTube staple. "Lazy Sunday" was recently removed from the site at NBC's request, according to InfoWeek.

NBC To Promote Fall Lineup On YouTube [InfoWeek]