The new Joost: Like Hulu but social

OM broke the news yesterday, that peer-to-peer startup Joost, in a major shift to the company’s strategy, is going to stop making its desktop client, opting for a browser-only option. Most of its content is going to be available through a browser-based player - with content discovery more socially oriented.

Liz Gannes tried it out and gives a full review on NewTeeVee.

BBC launches redesign of its news site

The BBC today launched a new look news website as part of an ongoing redesign of bbc.co.uk, reports NMA.

"The news and sport pages will now feature an embedded video service, increased numbers of images and wider page designs.

It will also include more promotion of the video services around breaking news and live events, as the BBC looks to put video and audio at the heart of story pages with viewers now able to watch video on page rather than in a separate window."

[via I Want Media]

New York Times solicits, posts user video

The New York Times' City Room blog has begun soliciting user-generated video and has begun posting some, including this remarkable one here, a “diptych tour” of Hart Island, which is the site of New York City’s potter’s field.

-- Submissions should focus on topics relating to New York City and the surrounding region.

-- Clips should be no longer than three minutes.

-- Your submission must not contain any profanity.

[via Cyberjournalist.net]

Youtube in Talks for Video News Service With Ads

According to The Korea Times, Google is seeking to partner newspapers to publish their video news content on YouTube and share the ad revenue with them, reports The Editors Weblog.

"This new move by Google to carry more news content – after Google News’ deal with news agencies – extends a hand out to newspapers. Although the details have to be worked out, YouTube could be a solution to some of newspapers’ problems, including catering to a younger audience, getting more brand name exposure, driving traffic back to their websites, and simply creating additional ad revenue."

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Newspapers Find Online Video Niche

Dailies such as Delaware’s News Journal, Westchester's Journal News, New York's NewsCenter Now , are staking out Web territory with broadband newscasts, reports Braodcasting&Cable.

"... Although newspapers have long offered Web video, they are turning to newscasts to grow that online stake.

The newscasts, many of which are available as downloads for mobile devices, largely cater to a young audience that eludes both newspapers and traditional broadcast news. They are often short and irreverent (such as the Miami Herald’s daily “What the 5!”) and are as likely to cover a local rock concert as a serial murderer.

... "A lot of what goes into a TV newscast is the appeal of the presenters because of their communication skills,” Horlick says. “If you don’t have credible presenters, [the user] can just click on the stories. I’m not terribly concerned with newspapers as competition with their newscasts.”

Another station general manager, who asked not to be named, also zeroes in on the talent issue. “What people want is better personalities, and the [newspaper anchors] are really bad. You have to deliver content in an entertaining way.”