MUMBAI: JumpTV, which broadcasts ethnic television over the Internet, has partnered with Joost a recently launched free-to-air Internet television service.

JumpTV will make a portion of its library of video-on-demand television content available on a series of JumpTV-branded ethnic television vertical channels on the Joost platform.

 
JumpTV currently broadcasts live over the Internet thousands of television programmes, news, music and sporting events from 270 channels from over 70 countries around the world on a subscription and advertising supported basis.

The initial JumpTV offering on Joost will feature programming regularly gathered from JumpTV's digitally rights compliant international television roster. The first JumpTV "channels" on Joost will feature Spanish-language series from Colombia, Chile and Peru, in addition to Arabic-language comedy, drama and news programs from some of the leading broadcasters in the Middle East.

 
JumpTV will be adding new programming on a daily or weekly basis, and intends to launch several more channels on Joost in other languages, including but not limited to Romanian, Turkish, Russian and Bengali.

JumpTV International president and CEO Kaleil Isaza Tuzman says, "We see Joost as a unique and important distribution /programming partner. Like us, the Joost team innately understands the power of viral, high-affinity long-tail content -- for example, JumpTV's ethnic TV programming. Given the track record of the Joost founders, we believe that the Joost platform could be as transformational for online television as their previous ventures have been."

Joost executive VP of content strategy and acquisition Yvette Alberdingkthijm said, "Content owners like JumpTV, with a diverse offering of channels that feed the global appetite for streamed online content, are a perfect match for Joost. Partnering with JumpTV will allow our viewers access to the best in global television programming in an Internet rights-compliant fashion."

JumpTV head of global distribution Mike John-Baptiste said, "Joost, like JumpTV has been securing programming from key licensors of television content, so we were pleased to see that they recognised our singular commitment and leadership in ethnic television."

"JumpTV is committed to providing our TV broadcaster content partners the broadest audience on the Internet as possible -- whether through ISPs, mobile carriers or Internet portals."

The partnership between Joost and JumpTV involves sharing of advertising revenues on the JumpTV-branded channels.