Bebo increases focus on video with Brightcove deal

by Ann-Marie Corvin Media Week 08-Apr-08, 09:00

Social network Bebo plans to increase the amount of video content on its site after linking up with online TV platform provider Brightcove.

Following the deal, broadcasters and content owners, which were last year given free access to Bebo's community through its Open Media programme, are now able to upload TV shows and advertising content directly onto Bebo's site for the network's 40 million members to view.

TV shows that have already taken advantage of Brightcove's technology include ITV's new drama Gossip Girl, ITV2 comedy Laura, Ben and Him and Keith Lemon, as well as Channel 4's Shipwrecked.

For Bebo, the partnership with Brightcove is another step towards the social network becoming a fully fledged third-party TV content aggregator to rival internet TV services, such as Joost and Hulu. Unlike these, however, Brightcove and Bebo do not take a cut of their content owners' ad revenues.

Bebo's increased video presence comes as rival social networks such as MySpace expand beyond offering pure social networking services, and into multimedia platforms with video content and retail services, in addition to social networking.

Bebo and Brightcove also announced plans to make it easier for media owners to use the Brightcove TV platform to programme and syndicate video content within Bebo.

Existing Brightcove partners include ITV, Channel 4, IPC, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.