diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1d7eac6e..8e0b6e794 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ which means you can modify it, redistribute it or use it however you like.
                              %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented
                              number, %(ext)s for the filename extension,
                              %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and
-                             %% for a literal percent
+                             %% for a literal percent. Use - to output to
+                             stdout.
     -a, --batch-file FILE    file containing URLs to download ('-' for stdin)
     -w, --no-overwrites      do not overwrite files
     -c, --continue           resume partially downloaded files
diff --git a/youtube-dl b/youtube-dl
index fa2bd4fca..8c4c320df 100755
--- a/youtube-dl
+++ b/youtube-dl
@@ -4082,7 +4082,7 @@ def parseOpts():
 			action='store_true', dest='autonumber',
 			help='number downloaded files starting from 00000', default=False)
 	filesystem.add_option('-o', '--output',
-			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent')
+			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent. Use - to output to stdout.')
 	filesystem.add_option('-a', '--batch-file',
 			dest='batchfile', metavar='FILE', help='file containing URLs to download (\'-\' for stdin)')
 	filesystem.add_option('-w', '--no-overwrites',
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index fa2bd4fca..8c4c320df 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -4082,7 +4082,7 @@ def parseOpts():
 			action='store_true', dest='autonumber',
 			help='number downloaded files starting from 00000', default=False)
 	filesystem.add_option('-o', '--output',
-			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent')
+			dest='outtmpl', metavar='TEMPLATE', help='output filename template. Use %(stitle)s to get the title, %(uploader)s for the uploader name, %(autonumber)s to get an automatically incremented number, %(ext)s for the filename extension, %(upload_date)s for the upload date (YYYYMMDD), and %% for a literal percent. Use - to output to stdout.')
 	filesystem.add_option('-a', '--batch-file',
 			dest='batchfile', metavar='FILE', help='file containing URLs to download (\'-\' for stdin)')
 	filesystem.add_option('-w', '--no-overwrites',