16 May 2007

Lifestyle video channel launch for MySpace

Popular social networking site MySpace has revealed it is set to offer lifestyle video channels for its users.

Among the parties to be involved in the scheme are the New York Times and National Geographic.

The site will offer the branded news and entertainment clips as part of larger expansion plans for its video availabilities.

MySpace, which is owned by NewsCorp, is trying to compete with other providers looking to take advantage of the increased traffic that online videos bring.

Money will not be an issue in many deals, with companies instead offering free clips to build brand awareness of their own sites.

Stephen Smyth, vice president and general manager of Reuters Media, told the Los Angeles Times: "Our strategy is to give our audience news and information where, when and how they want it."

MySpace will be showing short clips from National Geographic shows including Explorer and The Dog Whisperer, while trying to tap into the site's younger audience by giving information on how to be more environmentally-friendly.

Jeff Berman, general manager of MySpace Video, added that there were thousands of "micro-communities" interested in a range of content and issues.

"What we've done with this first round is hit some of those niches - entertainment, news, how-to, animation. In the long term, we'll hopefully have a whole lot for everyone," he commented.

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