Internet TV Joost formally launches at last

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 01 May 2007 23:09

Your IT - Entertainment

While the website still says ‘coming soon’, existing beta testers will soon have unlimited invitations and later this month anyone will be able to download Joost and try it out for themselves!

According to an Associated Press report, Joost formally launched today and will open up for any user to download the Joost TV application later this month, bringing broadband quality on-demand TV to broadband-enabled users anywhere on the planet. However, before the floodgates are opened, existing beta testers will soon be able to invite an unlimited number of additional participants, ensuring Joost still retains some exlcusive cachet before the final entry of Joost into the wider world for anyone to try.

Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, Joost’s top executive for content acquisition, told the AP in a telephone interview that: "Later this month we will be completely open" and allow anyone to download the Joost software from the company's Web site. This is the way you normally ramp up peer-to-peer software ... and it's a way to give our (beta tester) friends a little bit of a scoop.”

Joost uses a p2p infrastructure to deliver broadband television to Joost users, and is created by the dynamic duo that are responsible for bringing Kazaa and Skype to the world.

Not only is a whole suite of Viacom content going to be available on Joost as previously reported, a great deal of top-end CBS content will also be aired, including hit shows such as Numb3rs, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, NCIS, Survivor,  Jericho, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Showtime Original Movies and others.

In addition, CNN will offer news, Larry King Live and other Turner content, including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken and other content such as Transformers, G.I. Joe, Starsky and Hutch and Charlie’s Angels.

Joost has also announced 32 premium advertisers who will “micro-target audiences with new and unique ads during professionally-produced programming”, according to a Joost executive.

Advertisers include the Coca-Cola Company, HP, Intel, Nike, Electronic Arts; Esurance; Garnier Fructis; Kraft; Lionsgate; Microsoft Corp.; Motorola Inc.; Nestlé Purina PetCare; Procter & Gamble; Procter & Gamble (Hugo Boss Fragrances); Sony Electronics, Inc.; Taco Bell Corp.; United Airlines; US Army; Visa; and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (Orbit®, Extra®, and Eclipse®), General Motors Europe with Opel and Vauxhall brands; IBM; L'Oréal Paris; Nokia Nseries; Unilever's Magnum Ice Creams; Virgin Money; Vodafone; and Warner Bros.