NEW YORK (AFP) - YouTube, the video social-networking website owned by Google, is building a vast network of content providers, a company spokesman told AFP.
YouTube has concluded "more than 1,000 partnerships" with content providers both big and small, YouTube spokesman David Song said late Friday, confirming a New York Times report.
He declined to comment further on the company's strategy of constructing a huge authorized library.
YouTube has run into legal disputes with companies such as Viacom, parent of MTV and Paramount Pictures. YouTube was forced to remove more than 100,000 unauthorized clips of Viacom television programs in February after a promised copyright protection system was not installed on the popular website.
On Friday the British Broadcasting Corporation announced it had agreed a deal with YouTube, joining the likes of US broadcasters NBC, CBS and Fox.
The BBC said it hoped to reach YouTube's monthly audience of over 70 million viewers and generate wider interest in its programs, its own website and eventually related content on its proposed BBC iPlayer commercial download service.
The British broadcaster will put on YouTube video clips from its programs and will set up three "networks," two devoted to entertainment and one featuring news.
Other new deals YouTube announced this week include an agreement with the National Basketball Association. That deal includes the creation of a new area on the website, the NBA Channel, where fans can access original NBA content and submit their own basketball video clips as well as rate those of other people in a program called "Post Up the NBA."
Google bought YouTube in November in a 1.65-billion-dollar stock deal.
Powered by Business.Maktoob.com. All rights reserved
NTDE, ILB sign joint venture to open logistic hub
Third Abu Dhabi Annual International Surgical Conf 