Wednesday, February 21, 2007

YouTube's CBS deal falls apart

More news from the big boys in the video 2.0 world...The Wall Street Journal is reporting that A deal between Google Inc. and CBS Corp. that would let YouTube users watch clips from CBS shows such as “The Late Show with David Letterman,” has unraveled.

The two companies had been closing in on a multi-year deal but could not agree on key issues such as the length of the partnership.

Traditional media companies are looking for ways to court online users as viewers split their leisure time surfing the Web and using digital media devices like Apple Inc.’s iPod. While Google/YouTube, Joost and other large providers continue to look toward big media, independent content providers such as filmmakers, musicians and video producers can find distribution for their movies and videos at http://www.hungryflix.com.

The talks may resume, and the two companies have agreeed to work on smaller scale initiatives in the short term.

HungryFlix provides video downloads for the iPod, PSP and computer.

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Joost to distribute Viacom Content

Viacom has signed a deal to deliver television and theatrical programming to to the new Joost Internet TV service.

TV shows expected to debut once the deal is closed include MTV's "Laguna Beach," "Beavis and Butthead," "The Real World," "Punk'd" and "My Super Sweet 16." Comedy Central will provide episodes from "Stella," "Comedy Central Presents" and "Freak Show." BET's offerings will include "Beef The Series," "DMX: Soul of a Man," "Comic View" and "American Gangster." Country Music Television, MTV2, Logo, Spike TV, mtvU, VH1 and Gametrailers.com will also provide content.

The deal is clearly targeted at teens and young adults, a huge advertising demographic and one that is open to viewing content on their computers.

Joost has been receiving positive reviews for their rich client software and great user experience. Joost was formed last year by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, founders of the Internet calling service Skype.

Also of note is the fact that Viacom has selected Joost over YouTube/Google. It seems that YouTube will now look to form partnerships of it's own and the IPTV space will enter it's next phase.

While the large corporations move forward, independent filmmakers, video producers and content providers can find distribution for their films at HungryFlix.

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