Viacom and Joost

The WSJ is reporting that Viacom and Joost have signed a deal giving Joost access to hundreds of hours of programing.

From the WSJ: (subscription required)

"Just two weeks after ordering its content to be pulled from YouTube, Viacom Inc. announced a broad licensing deal with Joost, a new Internet service that specializes in commercial video content.

The deal, which follows the recent collapse of similar talks between Viacom and YouTube parent Google Inc., involves licensing hundreds of hours of programming from Viacom cable networks such as MTV, Comedy Central and Spike as well as movies made by the company's Paramount studios."

From Marketwatch:

"We're interested in distribution of our content on as many platforms as possible, provided we can operate in a secure environment," The Journal said it was told by Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said in an interview. "This assures any potential partners that we're open for business and that we're able to enter into transactions with companies that respect our content and the considerations of our business."

From PaidContent:

"It is still early days for Joost, but it is trying hard to become a place for YouTube refugees...at least the big media companies shying away from YouTube. It was started last year by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the two men behind Kazaa and Skype. It has deals with Warner Music and Endemol, and other smaller companies, but the Viacom agreement is its most far-reaching deal thus far."