–Viacom: Viacom’s BET Networks has partnered with Brightcove to launch a new black culture internet video channel in the U.K. BETonBlast.co.uk will offer music, entertainment, news, fashion and celebrity programming, which can itself be shared across blogs and social networks. The project will be ad-supported, with ads sold by Viacom’s own U.K. team. The launch is scheduled for later in the summer – BET plans to announce further expansions into Europe and Africa later. (Release).
– Brightcove: The web TV platform today also announced deals with other U.K. media groups. Womens magazine publisher Hachette Filipacchi will add ad-supported video channels for some of its properties, including Elle, which will start broadcasting daily fashion, beauty and style news and tips. (Release). IPC will use the player to run videos on sites for its magazines including Nuts, while Emap will do the same for Heat, which had recently been using YouTube. And Sony BMG has also extended its music video deal with Brightcove to the U.K. (Release).
– Friction.tv: Five News, the Sky News-produced daily news strand on Five, is partnering with video sharing network Friction.tv to power a new viewer participation feature. Launched in June, Friction.tv is an independent “online speaker’s corner” aimed at encouraging mature video and text debate on topical issues. Five News is encouraging viewers to contribute opinions to a new Your Views slot by uploading their videos to Friction.tv. A Your News slot launched last year has already yielded over 2,000 news stories from Five viewers, with hundreds aired on TV.