CNN on Joost
October 11, 2007
From Colin Mann in Cannes
CNN International is launching on Internet TV service Joost in Europe. In an agreement with parent company Turner Broadcasting, the deal with Joost also includes Turner’s entertainment brand Adult Swim. Turner’s content will roll out on Joost in Europe from October. Previously available via invitation only, Joost became publicly available on October 1st. Turner programming, including CNN and Adult Swim has been on Joost in the US since May.
As part of the news element, Joost’s European user-base will have on-demand access to news and feature programming from international news leader CNN’s broad video portfolio. The deal will also mark CNN’s first major step into short-form content provision in Europe as CNN continues to expand its digital presence across emerging media platforms.
Casey Harwood, SVP for Digital Media at Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe, said that Turner had a track record of actively embracing new ways of distributing its content in line with changing consumer habits.”Joost is an indicator of how the next generation will access and view television in the digital space.”
Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe has also signed a deal to distribute news and entertainment content to YouTube. Starting October 2007, short clips from Turner’s news and entertainment portfolio will be available to users across Europe. Specially branded channels on YouTube will feature content from CNN International, Adult Swim, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and the recently launched men’s interest channel, Nuts TV.
TBS Europe’s deal with YouTube follows a number of content agreement deals already brokered this year. In recent months the company has launched across Internet streaming services Vingo and Jalipo.