Slide brings TV to Facebook

by Staff, Brand Republic 02-Oct-08, 11:30

SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook app designer Slide has signed a deal with a number of major media companies, including CBS, Sony BMG and Warner Brothers, for the rights to distribute online video on its FunSpace platform.

The new application, FunSpace Channels, allows Facebook users to watch and share online video and will be introduced into other social networking sites throughout the year.

Media partners include CBS, Current Media, E! Entertainment, Fuel TV, Hulu, Sony BMG, TMZ and Universal. Online video partners include 236.com, Break Media, CollegeHumor, Howcast, Video Detective and YouTube.

Using the Slide platform, users will be able to view clips from shows like NBC's 'Beverly Hills 90210' for free, with Slide selling ads around the video content.

The media companies will share the revenue generated through advertising, although no further financial details of the deal were released.

Slide, the San Francisco-based social media start-up founded by PayPal creator Max Levchin, provides third-party applications to Facebook and Myspace users, including the SuperPoke!, Top Friends and Slideshows apps, used by over 170m users.

Keith Rabois, vice-president of strategy and business development at Slide, said: "Media companies create and deliver entertainment, social networks connect people, and Slide is the conduit between the two; that's social entertainment."