Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, the entrepreneurs who developed both Kazaa and Skype, are now using p2p technology to broadcast television via the Internet. Joost announced that it had signed several new content distribution agreements: it will air episodes of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and "Robot Chicken" from Turner"s Adult Swim network, as well as airing "Larry King Live," among other news and interview programs from Turner"s CNN, which is owned by Time Warner Incoporated. Joost also announced several other content deals: Sony will run episodes of several old TV series including "Charlie"s Angels" and "Starsky & Hutch" on Joost; Sports Illustrated will run photo shoots and programs about its swimsuit issue; the National Hockey League will broadcast vintage games and game highlights; and Hasbro will run old episodes of "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe."
Joost has previously signed deals with Viacom, Warner Music Group and CBS; it has advertising trials with 32 companies, including Coca-Cola, Nike, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Sony and Visa. Alberdingk Thijm said ad revenues were shared between Joost and the content providers; while advertisers were charged on a per-view basis. Ads are matched with appropriate content and views are exactly measured. Alberdingk Thijm said the company is still experimenting with when and how it will run ads, but that overall, there would be less advertising than on regular TV. As well, the company announced its "commercial availability": unlimited invites available to all beta testers (although Joost says I have 5). "Later this month we will be completely open" and allow anyone to download the Joost software from the company"s Web site, said Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, the company"s top executive for content acquisition. Joost is owned by Friis and Zennstrom via their Luxembourg-based Joost Operations SA, but it has offices in New York, London and Leiden, Netherlands, and expects to incorporate under the Joost name globally.