Thanks to a partnership with Viacom, television programming and full-length feature films will soon be available to users of ad-supported internet TV Joost - developed by the founders of Skype and Kazaa.
The revenue-sharing agreement calls for Viacom to provide programming from its MTV and BET networks, as well as full-length feature films from Paramount, Reuters reports. The deal is thought to provide Viacom with more than two-thirds of the advertising revenue generated.
Unlike video-sharing sites such as YouTube, Joost allows users to view content only when using a downloadable Joost player. Clips cannot be shared or posted on other sites, thus ensuring that partners' copyrights are protected, AdWeek explains.
The service has been in beta-testing since last fall; the launch is planned for the coming months. During beta, no advertising will be added to the content, but would likely be in place at launch.