BBC Worldwide and MySpace in global content deal

Thu Jan 24 2008, 16:47 PM

MySpace has signed a deal with BBC Worldwide to show programming from the broadcaster through MySpaceTV. The deal is described as the first global deal MySpace has signed with a major broadcaster, and also illustrates the BBC's broader strategy of moving into the online space. BBC content will be shown in short-form clips, organised under a number of categories. The deal, signed for an undisclosed sum, will operate on an ad-revenue sharing basis.

Roughly 150 BBC clips will be available to start with, on a dedicated BBC channel. On MySpace's video platform, these will be divided into seven categories including 'comedy', 'drama', 'sci-fi', 'weird and wonderful' and 'Top Gear'. The clips, which can be embedded in MySpace users' profiles, will be roughly two minutes in length and will include excerpts of popular shows such as 'Doctor Who', 'Robin Hood' and the 'Catherine Tate Show'. Most of the clips will be at least six months old, in order to give first rights to the BBC's recently launched iPlayer.

"With the global nature of the deal, this is a great opportunity to put the best shows from the BBC in front of new audiences," says director for digital media at BBC Worldwide, Simon Danker. The new partnership follows last year's deal between BBC and YouTube, signed in Mar. This non-exclusive, multi-year deal, also enabled BBC to put clips of its shows online on branded channels under an ad-sharing basis. The broadcaster also previously made ties with MySpace's social network rival, Facebook. In Aug 2007 the BBC announced that its online news stories would now include social bookmarking tabs, including tabs for Facebook, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Digg and del.icio.us.