US TV networks plan YouTube rival
March 22nd, 2007 by Wendy McAuliffe
News Corp and NBC Universal have today announced that they are teaming up to launch the “largest” internet video distribution network, which will directly compete with video-sharing sites such as YouTube.
The site will debut this summer, and provide free access to full-length programmes and films such as House, 24 and Heroes. The portal will be supported by advertising, with brands such as Cadbury Schweppes, Cisco and Intel already lined up.
The initiative will allow the US TV networks to have much greater control over their content, and hopefully minimise the chances of unauthorised clips of their content appearing on YouTube.
Viacom, which owns MTV and Nickelodeon, has similarly signed a deal with internet TV service Joost, to offer rights to its content once it launches this summer.
