After ditching Youtube, is Joost Viacom’s golden goose?

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 21 February 2007 09:15

Entertainment

With Viacom ditching Google’s Youtube after numerous copyright violations and promising to make MTV and other content available for use by consumers in social networking sites, their next big IPTV play is Joost. We’re glad to see Joost get some recognizable content, but does it really mean anything yet?

Ever since Joost, founded by famed Kazaa and Skype developers Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, shed its previous name of ‘The Venice Project’ and launched into the global scene, it has remained an invitation only beta that has attracted both praise and criticism. Praise that the experience is so very much like TV, but criticism that the content is, for now, far too limited, the bandwidth requirements are very heavy and that it’s an invitation only beta.

So, while Joost deals with these issues, it’s great to see that major content provider Viacom has decided to come on board and join the Joost bandwagon. According to the Joost press release, we’re told that under the agreement, Viacom's divisions - MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures - will provide television and theatrical programming on the Joost platform.

Joost is quick to play up their strengths, while conveniently forgetting that heavy bandwidth requirements will make Joost unusable in countries where ISPs have download caps that limit the appeal of what is otherwise a brilliant p2p IPTV service. Joost tells us that their platform is secure, efficient and piracy-proof, enabling premium interactive video experiences while guaranteeing copyright protection for content owners and creators.

Joost will also extend the traditional TV viewing experience by offering links that lead to more info or related websites, and will also eventually be compatible with a wide range of plug-ins, such as IM, message boards, news tickers and more. It sounds like it could well be the dream of interactive TV done right.

So now Viacom is in the mix. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the key issue is, as always, content. Content is king, after all. So what Viacom owned TV programs can we expect to be able to watch over Joost?

Thankfully, there are some well known TV titles on the video viewing menu. MTV is set to offer popular programs (both past and present), including Laguna Beach, Beavis & Butthead, Real World, Punk'd and My Super Sweet Sixteen.

The next channel from Viacom’s stable is Comedy Central. Here we’ll be able to watch episodes of Stella, CCP's and Freak Show – shows that I’ve never heard of.

But there are other channels most would be familiar with: Nickelodeon, CMT: Country Music Television, MTV2, Logo, Spike TV, mtvU, and Gametrailers.com will also provide content.

There’s also the well known VH1 which will offer episodes of Flavor of Love, Surreal Life, and I Love New York.

So, what other well known Viacom content can we expect to see on the upcoming Joost TV service? Read onto page 2 for the conclusion...