• by Laurie Petersen , April 17, 2007

Comcast's Comcast.net and Fancast.com will serve as key distribution sites for News Corp. and NBCU's online video venture, the companies announced yesterday.

As the venture's first non-equity content provider, Comcast will also provide non-exclusive content to the as-yet-unnamed "NewTube" site set to launch this summer. It will include E!, Style, G4, Versus and Golf Channel.

In addition, the companies announced that the new online video venture will use media management and video distribution technology from thePlatform, Inc., a Comcast subsidiary and provider of broadband and mobile video publishing solutions.

"We're delighted that the nation's largest cable provider will be a major player in this new venture," said Peter Chernin, president and chief operating officer of News Corp. "News Corp. and NBC have long histories with Comcast and we're committed to expanding our relationship in this new media universe. We believe there are a wealth of opportunities to exploit broadband distribution to benefit both our businesses."

"We are very excited by the positive response our new venture with News Corp. has generated," said Jeff Zucker, president and CEO, NBC Universal. "Comcast's participation is yet another affirmation of our strategy to place top-quality, protected content in as many places as possible."

"We are pleased to have the best of NBC and Fox's TV content available to our customers on Comcast.net and Fancast.com," said Steve Burke, chief operating officer, Comcast Corp., and president of Comcast Cable. "Making TV content available on multiple devices will enable our customers to view their favorite shows on television, online and on video-on-demand."